Towpath access would be guaranteed, the Government said. Photo: Ardent Photgraphy/Don Stewart CC-BY-ND-2.0

The Government is asking for the views of walkers, cyclists and paddlers with the opening of a consultation on the setting up of a new charity to take over canals and other inland waterways in England and Wales.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the new body, which would take over waterways from British Waterways and the Environment Agency, would be one of the country’s biggest, with more than 4,000km (2,485 miles) of navigable water and paths under its control.

The disposal of the publicly owned waterways has attracted much less attention and opposition than the hugely unpopular English forests sell-off.

A statement by Defra said the new charity would secure the waterways’ long-term, sustainable financial future by enabling the new body to access new sources of income and greater public support, and give local people a greater say in their upkeep.

Free access to towpaths would be guaranteed under proposed legislation, Defra said, and the coalition Government would transfer waterways to the New Waterways Charity subject to a special trust, which will be set out in a trust declaration requiring the waterways to be protected for the public’s benefit, in perpetuity.

The public consultation runs until 30 June and any interested parties can make their views known.

Paul Owen, chief executive of the British Canoe Union, said: “The British Canoe Union welcomes this consultation for the new waterways charity.

“Our inland waterways are a truly special resource and we hope that everyone with an interest in our waterways will comment on the proposals.

“The NWC will provide a great opportunity for local communities, especially young people, to come together and get involved with managing and developing their local waterways and the surrounding environments. We are especially looking forward to working with the NWC to encourage more people to get out on the water, and to build a future where everyone can enjoy our waterways for years to come.”

Environment Minister Richard Benyon said: “Our inland waterways are important pieces of heritage, havens for wildlife, and vital for leisure, recreation, health and well-being – enjoyed by millions of boaters, anglers, walkers and cyclists.

“We want to unlock the true potential of the waterways, so that they are valued and enjoyed by even more people. Creating a new charitable body for waterways will give people the chance to have a greater say in the running of their local canal or river.”

British Waterways is a public corporation responsible for 3,000km (1,864 miles) of waterways, of which about three-quarters are canals. The Environment Agency manages almost 1,000km (621 miles) of waterways, most of which are navigable rivers. The two bodies are responsible for around 75 per cent of the 5,000km (3,107 miles) of waterways in England and Wales.

The Government said it is committed to delivering a ‘national trust for the waterways’.

The plan is to phase in the disposal, with British Waterways’ canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs in England and Wales transferring into the new body as soon parliamentary authority is gained. The EA navigations would be put under the care of the new waterways charity after the next Spending Review in 2015 subject, the Government said, to affordability and the agreement of the NWC trustees.

Submissions to the consultation can be made online via the Defra website or by email.