Canal & River Trust Appoints New Commission to Review Boat Licensing
In response to the evolving use of the UK’s 2,000-mile canal network, the Canal & River Trust has appointed a new independent commission to review the legal framework governing boat licensing. This initiative aims to ensure that regulations remain relevant and effective for the future.
Kicking off in January 2025, the commission’s review is scheduled to run until September next year. The three-member commission will be led by Andrew Cowan, a former senior partner at Devonshires. He will be joined by Penelope Barber, an elected boating representative on the Trust’s Council and Sir Chris Kelly, a former civil servant and past boat owner.
The commission’s primary task will be to assess potential legislative reforms and operational changes to the trust’s boat licensing activities. Its findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Trust Board, with oversight provided by the newly formed boating subcommittee of the board, chaired by David Orr CBE, the Canal & River Trust’s chair.
Orr emphasises the importance: “Our canals and navigable rivers are still used by thousands of boats two centuries after they were first built to act as vital freight routes for the Industrial Revolution. However, as society evolves, so do the ways our canals and rivers are used, and boating is no exception. This review will allow us to take a fresh look at how we licence boats on our waters and help us formulate proposals for possible changes that better reflect the use of the network today and in the future.”