Keep Canals Alive! Narrowboats on the Birmingham Canal Navigations

On Sunday 13th August 2023, in response to Government plans to cut funding in future to the Canal & River Trust, there was a lot of narrowboats on the Birmingham Canal Navigations in Central Birmingham. From The Mailbox towards Utilita Arena Birmingham and beyond. I just saw them between the Arena, Brindleyplace and Gas Street Basin when I was there.

The Birmingham Canals in the City Centre have seen a lot of regeneration over the last 30 plus years, on both sides of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline. From Brindleyplace to the National Indoor Arena (now Utilita Arena Birmingham). But in future years, the Government wants to cut the money they give to the Canal & River Trust to keep maintaining the network of canals around the country.

This view from Arena Birmingham South Car Park. National Sealife Birmingham on the left, with Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham below.

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Narrowboats seen between Old Turn Junction and Gas Street Basin on Sunday 13th August 2023.

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The Keep Canals Alive Canal & River Trust campaign, the banner on a bridge near The Malt House, from Old Turn Junction, to the left is the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal.

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Brindley Cruises narrowboat passing Old Turn Junction and National Sealife Birmingham.

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More narrowboats heading under the Brewmasters Bridge.

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Near the Brewmasters Bridge at Three Brindleyplace, a new venue The Park: Virtual Reality Experience.

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A look back to Utilita Arena Birmingham.

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From Brindleyplace, saw a group of kayakers near The ICC. So I crossed over the Brindleyplace Bridge, then went to the Black Sabbath Bridge.

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A narrowboat comes out of the Broad Street Tunnel below the Black Sabbath Bridge near Brindleyplace.

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Entering the Broad Street Tunnel / Black Sabbath Bridge, towards Gas Street Basin. More narrowboats coming through.

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Now at Gas Street Basin, the end of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline. Beyond was the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, with more narrowboats waiting.

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The other side of the Worcester Bar at Gas Street Basin, more narrowboats on the start of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

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Exiting Gas Street Basin near what was Old Wharf. Another narrowboat moored that day for the Keep Canals Alive campaign for the Canal & River Trust.

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Photography by Elliott Brown