Over 40,000 Sign Petition Urging Re-Think Over Canals Funding Cut

Over 40,000 people have signed a petition calling on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to stop cuts which could threaten the future of canals and attractions like Foxton Locks.

The Canal and River Trust is to lose almost half its government funding in four years’ time – amounting to more than £300m in real terms.

It says it will have a ‘potentially devastating impact’ on its ability to maintain the country’s network of canals and special sites like at Foxton.

The online petition was launched in July when the charity revealed the situation and launch a campaign urging the government to re-think the decision.

Linny Beaumont is the Canal and River Trust’s Regional Director for the East Midlands:

Foxton Locks Pic: Canal & River Trust

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) told HFM: “Since it was first created in 2012, we have been very clear that the Trust would have to increasingly move towards alternative sources of funding.

“To date we have awarded them £550 million funding and are supporting the Trust with a further £590 million between now and 2037 – a significant sum of money and a sign of the importance that we place on our canals.

“We have been discussing this with the charity for some time and have been offering support on how it can increase income from other sources, as per the original objective of the grant funding.”