The UK’s Number ONE read for all waterways users
Issue 241, November 2025
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72 PAGES PRINCESS ROYAL VISITS BOAT-BUILDING ACADEMY
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AUDIO TRAIL LAUNCHED ON THE MONTY p4
GOING GREEN WITH BRAND-NEW ENGINE p5
IWA/TOWPATH TALK SUSTAINABLE BOATING AWARDS WINNERS
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Spooks S pooks aahoy! hoy! It’s the season of glowing pumpkins and shifting shadows, and this early-morning picture of narrowboat Spooky on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, near Haywood, sums it up. It’s the home of continuous cruisers Lee Welsby and Gwen Owen, who run Fibre & Tan. Lee explains: “I work leather and weave and used to sell my leather hand-bound journals and so on sold through an art gallery before we retired. Gwen spins and weaves and makes little creatures out of felting. Fibre & Tan was formed when we got together four years ago. The aim is to go back to making the things we enjoy doing next year as a hobby now that we have given up full-time work and moved onto the boat, maybe doing the odd craft fair.” Author Nick Ford talks about haunted waterways – page 18.
UK’s biggest-ever river pollution legal claim filed at High Court A LEGAL claim challenging river pollution in the Wye and Usk catchment areas has been filed at the High Court. Almost 4000 people have joined the action, making it the UK’s biggest-ever
environmental pollution lawsuit. The court action is against industrial chicken production firms Avara Foods Limited and Freemans of Newent Limited, as well as sewage company Welsh
Trust’s plan to increase voluntary income tenfold
BOATS FOR SALE Starts on
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MORE than half the Canal & River Trust’s income now comes from property, investments, utilities, donations and other funding – and it has an ambitious strategy to grow voluntary income tenfold over the next decade. The organisation’s annual report 2024/25 has revealed that with
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Water, Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig, which are accused of extensive and widespread pollution in the rivers Wye and Lugg and their tributaries. Welsh Water is blamed for pollution in the
government funding reducing in real terms, income from boating exceeded the grant received from government, with each making up almost a quarter of the charity’s funds. More than £60 million was invested in winter maintenance in more than 200 projects, including installing 135 new handcrafted lock gates, major inspections at landmark sites and repairs to centuries-old bridges, tunnels and wash walls. A further £21
river Usk. The three companies have denied the allegations to law firm Leigh Day, which represents the claimants.The claims have been served on the defendants, and the Particulars
million was spent upgrading 22 of the charity’s 74 large, raised reservoirs. The report also highlighted the Better Boating Plan, developed with boaters and backed by £3 million of targeted investment to improve navigation. The charity’s dredging programme removed more than 60,000 tonnes of material and improved 40-plus miles of waterway. Trust chairman David Orr said: “We have engaged closely with the Labour
of Claim are with the High Court. The firms must file a defence and, unless the claim is settled, it will be heard in a • Continued on page 2
government, aiming to build a new partnership exploring how we can contribute to their policy goals, while also enabling the canal network itself to remain resilient and a net contributor to the economy.” As reported, the trust set up an independent commission to review the framework around boat licensing and the service delivered to boaters more generally. The commission is expected to report in November.
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