Tag Archives: CRT offices

New Canal And River Trust CEO

Following Richard Parry’s announcement that he would be leaving his role as CEO, Canal and River Trust have selected serial charity CEO Campbell Robb as his replacement. Previously CEO of housing charity Shelter and currently criminal justice, housing and education charity Nacro, Robb has long experience of running organisations attempting to paper over the cracks of a failing British state. Perhaps that why he was chosen.

Trigger Parry
Canal and River Trust’s previous CEO Richard Parry as previously featured on NBTA London

As when Parry took up the role shortly after the foundation of CRT, a certain amount of optimism was expressed at the announcement. Robb’s experience in the “social justice” third sector has been cited as evidence that boaters without a home mooring could get better treatment from the Trust. That would be nice, but given the stuff coming out of the licence review, even if that were his intention – and there is no evidence that it is – such a change in the well entrenched culture of CRT seems unlikely.

National Demo against the Surcharge in Birmingham

On a crisp winter’s day in November, over one hundred boaters from across UK waterways descended on the Canal and River Trust’s Birmingham office. Boaters from all over, from Macclesfield canal, Birmingham canals, to Kennet and Avon canal, Monmouth and Brecon canal to River Lea and many more waterways unified to protest against CRT’s discriminatory licence fee surcharge. A few boats with banners joined us outside the office, which was really fantastic to see, and we were able to get the story into several press outlets too.

The demo was a great success and showed CRT that we will not stand by and allow them to threaten our way of life. Thank you to everyone who came or supported from afar!


NBTA London needs your support to carry on our work. Please get in touch here if you would like to volunteer with us. Alternatively your donations are vital to us supporting boaters with their legal case work, campaign banners and other printed material as well as events. You can help us with your donations online here