More visitors for Britain's waterways

The pledge was made at BW's Annual Meeting, on Thursday 10th July. The audience, including representatives of walkers, boaters and cyclists, heard how the organisation is increasingly making its own way in the world by raising more money to maintain the waterways. In 2002 and 2003, BW earned 20% more commercial income than ever before - a total of £82 million. All this money is reinvested in the waterways.

Recent years have seen 220 miles of waterway reopened, and 20,000 new jobs created. A further milestone will be reached at the end of 2004, when BW expects to have cleared the backlog of safety-related repairs - a legacy of the decades when Britain’s canals were starved of investment.

With these works well underway, Robin Evans said the time was right to promote the waterways to a wider audience. "We need to invest in new consumer businesses and improve the waterways further so that they are ever more attractive and desirable to visitors and consumers." The process has already started, with resurfaced towpaths, visitor centres at major attractions - such as the Anderton Boat Lift, Standedge Tunnel and the Falkirk Wheel - and more moorings for boaters.

Mr Evans explained: "The more people who enjoy the waterways for holidays and recreation – the waterside restaurants, pubs, holiday hire boats, canalside cottages, marinas, at events and for angling, cycling, walking – the more income British Waterways will generate for re-investment. The more we can improve the waterways, the more people will be attracted to visit. It’s a virtuous circle."