£1.4M for Anglian Waterways

Boaters are to benefit from a £1.4 million investment into Anglian Waterways, as the Environment Agency launches its latest improvement program.

The seven-figure investment for the repairs and upgrades of the Anglian Waterways’ 353-mile network will ensure the structures remain in good working order for years to come, reports the Environment Agency.

Among others, the investment program includes de-shoaling work on the rivers Great Ouse and Nene. This will remove underwater gravel that builds up naturally and can hamper navigation.

Neil Pope, Anglian Waterways assets team leader at the Environment Agency, said: “Maintaining our waterways to a good, safe working standard is our number-one priority. We invest money very carefully to ensure the best value for every pound we spend. This means our waterways will continue to offer outstanding value to the many, many people who enjoy them every year.”

The Environment Agency cares for more than 353 miles of navigable waterways in the Anglian region, as well as a vast network of associated facilities such as bridges, locks, moorings and toilets. The two most popular rivers in this network – the Great Ouse and the Nene – attract more than 7,000 boaters and an estimated 1.1m other visitors every year.