The current state of the inland waterways

Panel discussion at Crick Boat Show 2026

Two people stand by a canal lock with a boat inside, enjoying festive activities amid lush grass and vegetation.

What does the future hold for Britain’s inland waterways?

Recorded at the 2026 Crick Boat Show, this panel discussion brings together a range of voices from across the inland waterways to talk honestly about the current state of Britain’s canals and rivers.

Chaired by Paul Knox-Johnston, the discussion looks at the pressures facing the network today, from funding, maintenance and stoppages to climate change, water transfer, abandoned boats, biodiversity, towpath use and the future of boating.

The panel discusses questions including:

What are the biggest changes seen on the waterways in recent years?
Are more people living aboard, and what does that mean for leisure boating?
How are climate change, drought, low water levels and stoppages affecting canals and rivers?
Could canals play a bigger role in water transfer, water storage and the UK’s future water infrastructure?
Should the waterways be treated as critical national infrastructure, rather than just a leisure or heritage asset?
How should the Canal & River Trust prioritise maintenance, dredging, lock repairs and facilities?
What can be done about abandoned, sunken or unseaworthy boats?
Could AI, drones and new technology help with infrastructure monitoring, predictive maintenance and identifying boats at risk of sinking?
Should cyclists, walkers, runners and other towpath users contribute more to the upkeep of the network?
What would success look like for the waterways in 2050?

The conversation also touches on the changing balance between leisure boating and residential boating, the pressure on ageing canal infrastructure, the role of volunteers, the importance of communication with boaters, and the need to protect the waterways for future generations.

Panel members:

Matthew Symonds – Head of Boating and Customer Service Support, Canal & River Trust

Charlie Norman – Director of Campaign and Public Affairs, Inland Waterways Association

Tiffany Gale-Haynes – Owner of Enslow Marina and partner at Kingsground Narrowboats

Peter Johns – Publisher of Waterways World and Crick Boat Show Director

For anyone who owns a narrowboat, is a liveaboard, runs or works in a marine business, or simply enjoys spending time by the water, this is a useful discussion about where the waterways are now and what may need to happen next.

We hope you enjoy the discussion, and if you have any questions please email us at marketing@HavenKJ.com