England and Wales’ canal network will receive an additional £6.5 million in government funding to enhance resilience against extreme weather and maintenance costs. This adds to the existing £52.6 million annual funding for the Canal and River Trust (CRT). The investment aims to extend the life of critical assets such as embankments and reservoirs, supporting public safety and keeping waterways operational.

Water Minister Emma Hardy emphasized the canals’ significance to national infrastructure. Key projects will address improvements on various canals and benefit older reservoirs crucial for water supply. The funding acknowledges the strain from climate challenges and rising maintenance costs on the historic network.

Government announces extra 6.5 million for the canals. Image from Facebook.

One point of note is this funding was agreed before the recent Llangollen canal breach at Whitchurch.

A component of this funding applies to London’s waterways where the Canary Wharf drawbridge (also known as the Blue Bridge) linking the West India Dock and the site’s waterways to the Thames needs substantial work to keep it operational. The bridge forms the entrance to the West India and Millwall Docks system (or what’s left of that post Canary Wharf development) this includes regular ship and barge traffic to West India Dock (this forms the main body of water to the south side of the Canary Wharf development) as well as Millwall Dock (leading off the West India Dock) and the Bellmouth Passage (leading to Blackwall and Poplar basins where a number of residential barges are kept).

The Blue Bridge at the entrance to West India Dock – which is the subject of additional funding from DEFRA.

Some aspects of the bridge has needed substantial work as pictures show. Thus during the early part of 2026 the Blue Bridge is out of commission on the following dates for what CRT say are ‘critical remedial works’ –

• Monday 19th – Friday 23rd January 2026
• Saturday 14th February (Additional Date)
• Monday 16th – Friday 20th February 2026
• Monday 2nd – Friday 6th March 2026

(Detail is from CRT’s West India and Millwall Docks notices).

The Montgomery bridge on the central Bellmouth passage (which connects the southern and northern parts of the network) is also up for closure from 4th to 26 February and height is restricted therein. Neither of the works will affect the not affect the usual passage of Go Boats or Skuna hot tubs and BBQ boats which can navigate the area’s smaller dimension waterways (including the narrow stretch of water with its very low bridges which squeezes past the entrances to the huge Elizabeth line station and underneath West India Quay DLR station.

Yikes! Passengers alighting from Canary Wharf (Elizabeth line) may well get to see people in near naked mode cruising right past the station’s exit!

No doubt the evident threat from these little boats has to be a reason why the Elizabeth line station was built with ship impact protection!

Canals not valued by Government. BBC Report January 2026.