There are 35,000 people living on Britain’s canals, and for those without a permanent mooring, prices are going up.
Wherever they are in the country, canal boat owners need to pay a licence to be on the waterways.
In April, the organisation that manages the canals, the Canal and River Trust (CRT), increased licence prices, levying a surcharge on itinerant boaters, also known as constant cruisers, who make up about one fifth of those who live on the water.
For most continuous cruisers, the surcharge is 25% on top of the existing licence costs, increasing in staggered increments of 5% annually culminating in April 2028.
NELondoner spoke to actor and houseboat owner Toby Osmond – best known for his role as the Prince of Dorne on Game of Thrones – about the impacts of the surcharge.
Since speaking to Osmond, the licence strike campaign has gathered 300 signatures and rising, as boaters continue to resist price hikes and protect their life on the water.
Featured image credit: Daisy Clague
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