Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals

Opened the debate

I am concerned about the protection of the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals, which are part of our national heritage and community fabric. The canals face significant funding challenges due to cuts imposed by the previous Conservative Government, amounting to nearly £300 million over ten years. Protecting these landmarks costs money, with each lock gate costing approximately £150,000. There is also a need for substantial restoration work, such as the Toddbrook reservoir repairs in 2019 which cost £15 million. The canals are vital for nature, health and wellbeing, tourism, and water management, but face an uncertain future without adequate funding.

Government Response

What a pleasure it is to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Dowd. I begin by congratulating the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Lisa Smart) both on her election and on securing this important debate. Similarly, I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Tim Roca) on his election and on his excellent participation today. We have heard a lot this morning about the many benefits that the two beloved canals bring to so many people in Hazel Grove and Macclesfield. The Canal and River Trust reports nearly 860 million visits to its canals last year, with around 10 million individual users each fortnight. Our navigation authorities must help ensure that this part of our nation's key infrastructure is resilient to climate change and contribute to net zero targets through sustainable transport and energy generation. The Canal and River Trust, which manages the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals, is a charity independent of Government with a 15-year grant totalling around £740 million provided when it was set up in 2012, now set at £52.6 million a year until 2027. Returns from its investment portfolio provide another quarter of the annual income, meaning that the trust successfully raises half its annual income from other sources. An important part of the transfer from British Waterways was an agreed objective that the trust would move progressively towards greater financial self-sufficiency and reduced reliance on public funding; with a reported increase of £12 million in total income last year over the previous year, the trust is making good progress towards this objective. A review concluded that the trust was performing well and delivering value for money, leading to a further substantial grant funding package of £401 million from 2027 onwards. The Government are supportive of canal restoration generally to bring benefits to more people but no general Government funding is available for canals; local volunteers, navigation authorities, local authorities, and canal societies play an important role in preserving the canals through fundraising and maintenance work.