Quote

Canal and River Trust Press Release
1/4/2025.
With the UK commitment to the use of nonpolluting green energy for water transport by 2050, Canal and River Trust are helping boaters convert their vessels from polluting fossil fuel propulsion, heating and cooking to clean, silent,  renewable electrical power.
In collaboration with the other UK inland navigation authorities, the use of diesel, solid fuel and gas in boats will be phased out, then banned.
Our initial plan was to introduce a system wide network of recharging points. However this would take many years to install and the cost would be prohibitive, given the reduced budget the Trust has to work within. Instead we will be releasing large numbers of South American Electric Eels (Electrophorus electricus) into our canals and rivers. The eels are currently (no pun intended) growing in the Trust's many reservoirs from eggs previously  introduced. They will soon reach their adult 2m length, ready to be released and do their bit to help us reach our green commitments.
Boaters need only lower a wire probe over the side of their boat to make use of the free battery charging they will provide. Each eel it touches will contribute to charging the boat's batteries, providing power for propulsion, cooking, heating, lighting and all other on-board requirements, without the need for burning fossil fuels.
Anglers are advised to wear rubber gloves when fishing with carbon fibre rods. They must also learn to recognise the distinctive appearance of any electric eels they catch and return them immediately to the water, without touching them.
This change will put the Trust at the forefront of the Green Revolution and ensure boaters a pollution free future.

 

Picture used under license.
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Electric-eel2.jpg#mw-jump-to-license

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19s3JNKcj1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

In trying to find the cause or causes they have delved into a new realm

It is suggested that there was a long term leak and that the canal had been deepened there. Along with this was a possible suggestion that boaters turning their propellors may have contributed to the breach.

If the embankment had been weakened by piling and the use of this spot as a popular mooring location. Boats arriving and leaving might have an effect on the bed of the canal and if so is this something that needs to be addressed.

There is also the effect of water getting behind the waterway wall or piling and what damage that might cause over time. For those who have seen the Bridgewater videos it is clear that water is passing past the coffer dams and behind the walls to exit on the drained sections. With time water in such locations might freeze in winter and on freezing to ice expands creating a larger hole. An again is this an issue engineers should consider.

https://www.yorkmix.com/its-like-pulling-teeth-frustration-at-lack-of-progress-to-upgrade-vital-york-route

https://kenilworth.nub.news/news/local-news/canal-locks-set-for-repair-307798

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c50m3grngnllo

Developers are being urged to safeguard the Wilts and Berks canal route with Plans for 1200 houses at Pewsham, Chippenham.
 

Interesting that CRT are raising concerns about this, when it’s many miles from CRT waters. It suggests that possibly CRT may be getting more involved with restoration plans. No doubt some  will point out  that CRT can’t manage current waters, and or that all should be focussed on one restoration without realising that local people will want to help local restorations (WRG groups being an exception). It does raise the profile of CRT if nothing else. 

I read somewhere that CRT were getting more involved and their restoration page was last updated yesterday 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/our-cause/looking-after-canals-and-rivers/canal-restoration
 

Wonder what CRT game plan going to be ?

Speedboat driver/helm/steerer/whatever taken into custody for ramming and attempting to ram sculls in Maidenhead.

His engines considerably more powerful then his brain.

Now if he was trying to ram jetskis.........

brecon-canal-link.pdf

Scott

Anyone living nearby have updates on this because I’ve searched online but no results

This reminded me of a time around 2008 when I was going with the ebb tide downstream through central London and I can't remember which bridge it was but there was a trip boat coming the other way and plenty of room for us both to use the same span simultaneously. 

Just as I was going under the bridge a police RIB suddenly came up from behind at about 25kts and overtook on my starboard side missing the side of my boat by about 4ft and almost pushing me into the path of the oncoming trip boat. It was really scary.

The incident today doesn't surprise me at all. They're a menace.

BBC News - Gloucester bridge could have mast removed after plans submitted - BBC News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c24m35e87v0o

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/news/15-locks-to-receive-new-gates-in-15th-year-of-support-from-postcode-lottery-players

Stoke Bruene has done well which suits us with 3 of the 15 (top and bottom) but I can think of others just as bad in the GU further north that need sorting, but maybe this work is part of the water transfer project?

Good news. Just need water.

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/019df824-90fb-7ac8-a19b-7bc02f2c658a

Which is not good news if you've got a booking through Standedge on May 20th... 😞 

CRT press release:

Canal & River Trust announces changes to executive team 

Canal & River Trust has announced a streamlined executive team structure that is coming into effect from today, 1 July 2026, as the charity accelerates plans to strengthen the organisation for the future.

The changes, first outlined in April, respond to a more challenging operating environment, marked by funding pressures, rising costs, climate change and increased regulatory demands, and form a key part of the Trust’s evolving strategy.

The new structure combines existing leadership roles with newly created and expanded positions.  It will improve efficiency across the charity’s extensive maintenance responsibilities whilst placing a greater emphasis on customers, communities and partnerships to help secure the long-term future of the UK’s canal network.

The most significant change brings together the Trust’s operations and engineering functions into one unified division.  This is being led by Malcolm Horne who has been with the Trust for four years and was appointed chief operations officer following a competitive recruitment process.

Susie Mather will take up the role of chief policy & communications officer also after a competitive process and having led the Trust’s communications and external relations over the past three years.

A new customer & place division has been created to focus on delivering outstanding boating and customer experience, and deepening community connections.  Caroline King will lead the division and will join on 1 October 2026 from Ageas UK, bringing more than 30 years’ leadership experience.  Henriette Breukelaar, who has led the Trust’s West Midlands region, will step in on an interim basis from 1 July.

Simon Major will join the Trust on 5 October 2026 as chief assurance officer, strengthening the Trust’s approach to governance, risk and regulatory compliance.  He joins from The King’s Trust and brings extensive experience across the charity sector.  Beth Hawthorn, head of legal at the Trust, will act as interim from 1 July.

Laura Davies will join the charity on 16 September 2026 from Transport for London as chief of staff.  She brings deep expertise in strategy, governance and transformation, and will support the chief executive and executive team in driving delivery.

The other executive roles, which remain unchanged, are the chief financial officer, chief investment officer and chief people officer.  An interim fundraising director is currently reviewing the Trust’s ambition for charitable income to contribute to the significant cost of keeping the canal network open and operational.

Campbell Robb, chief executive at Canal & River Trust, comments: “We’re entering a more demanding and complex period, and these changes ensure we’re set up to respond with focus, pace and clarity.

“This is about building a leadership team that combines experience with fresh thinking, so we can strengthen our impact, deepen our connections with communities and safeguard the long-term future of our canal network.

“We need to increase the pace of work to keep the canal network maintained and available, raising the funds required and making the case for the modern role of canals within society.  We will also be taking forward key pieces of work including the boater transformation programme and implementing the recommendations from the independent Commission into boat licensing.”

The changes mark the departure of three long-serving senior leaders at the Trust.  Julie Sharman, chief operating officer, retires from the executive team after 30 years of service to the waterways, Heather Clarke, strategy & impact director, retires with nearly 29 years of service, and Tom Deards, legal & governance director, will leave the Trust at the end of July after 19 years of service.

Campbell continues: “I’d like to pay huge tribute to Julie, Heather and Tom for their significant contribution to the canal network over many years.  This includes the journey that took the canals into the charitable sector and the foundations that they put in place for us to take the next steps in ensuring that the canal network prospers and is recognised for the critical infrastructure role that it can play within today’s society.”

Further work to review structures below executive level will follow, although this is at an early stage. Existing contact points with the Trust, including customer service, out of hours emergencies, social media channels, and licence and mooring communications, all remain unchanged.