Inland Waterways Association

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The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) was formed in 1946 to campaign for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and sensitive development of British Canals and river navigations. Notable founding members included L. T. C. Rolt and Robert Aickman ^[1]. Over the country it is organised into regions, each of which consist of several branches. The current National Chairman is John Fletcher.

The IWA membership in 2008 is about 18,000.^[2] It works closely with British navigation authorities including British Waterways and other waterway bodies, a wide range of national and local authorities, voluntary, private and public sector organisations. It raises funds, lobbys for support and encourages public participation. The IWA also supplies voluntary labour through its subsidiary the Waterway Recovery Group. Each year it organises the National Festival which is run entirely by volunteers on behalf of the Association. It is a registered charity, number 212342^[3].

Through these efforts, more than 500 miles of derelict and unavailable canals and river navigations have been re-opened ^[4] to public use since the Association was founded. Another 500 miles are currently the subject of restoration plans.^[5] However the Association believes there is still much to do.

1 Recent developments
2 Plaques
3 See also
4 External links
5 References

[edit] Recent developments

In November 2005 IWA signed a maintenance and operating agreement with the Administrator of The Company of Proprietors of the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Ltd, whereby IWA will be responsible for the navigation in perpetuity. The Chelmsford Branch of the IWA worked closely with the C&BNCo from 1994 until it went into administration in August 2003.

IWA has formed a subsidiary company, Essex Waterways Ltd. and, with support from local authorities, will operate and maintain the river navigation for the benefit of the general public. This is the first time that IWA has taken full operational and maintenance responsibilities for a navigation.