How we manage the Canal

The Basingstoke Canal is jointly owned by Surrey and Hampshire County Councils within their areas – almost precisely half each.

The Basingstoke Canal Authority (BCA), was set up in 1990 to manage the Basingstoke Canal as a managing agent on behalf of the two County Councils. The BCA are a local authority partnership for which the staff and finances are hosted by Hampshire County Council.

The BCA undertakes the day-to-day management of the Canal including managing water levels, inspecting the assets, general maintenance, and managing the towpath, navigation and fishery for public use.

From 1990 to 2024 the management of the Canal was overseen by a formal Joint Management Committee made up of the elected Councillors of all of the partner organisations involved.

A new governance structure was agreed between the two owning County Councils in March 2024, agreeing that the BCA should continue to manage the canal for them but reflecting changing circumstances. Further information can be seen in the decisions taken by Surrey County Council and Hampshire County Council.

Governance of the Canal and BCA is now through an officer steering group called the Basingstoke Canal Management Team and overseen by the Basingstoke Canal Joint Board made up of the elected Councillors of the two County Councils.

From 2024 onwards the Basingstoke Canal Management Team will host an Annual Meeting and summer site tour for stakeholders and funding supporters.

Key documents

  • Memo of Agreement – setting out the basis of joint canal management between Surrey County Council and Hampshire County Council.
  • Service Level Agreements – from 2024 onwards the BCA will enter into individual Service Level Agreements with local authorities or other grant funders to offset the running costs of the canal or to provide agreed services.
  • Annual Report – from 2024 onwards the BCMT will publish an annual report detailing progress against the Key Objectives.
  • Canal Bylaws – local laws made under the National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the Countryside Act 1968 for the safe operation of the Canal made by the two County Councils that underpin all other regulations.
  • Canal Strategy - setting out the strategy for the next 5 years and how other plans and strategies interact
  • Conservation Management Plan – sets out policies and programmes to manage the Canal from a conservation perspective embedding conservation principles into all management actions. This plan has also been formally agreed with Natural England the national supervisor body for conservation.
  • Asset Management Plan – sets out policies and programmes for the long-term repair and maintenance of the Canal structure and main physical assets in a steady state.
  • Emergency Response Plan – sets out the actions required to ensure that residents and visitors remain safe in the event of an emergency situation.
  • Works Priority statement – sets out the relevant priorities for staff and volunteers in maintaining the canal.
  • Privacy - the BCA manage the Canal under the policies and procedure of Hampshire County Council. Hampshire County Council's general privacy statementsSpecific Privacy Notices for the Canal

Key objectives

The key objectives for joint management of the Canal are:

(a) Public safety
Including safety of staff and volunteers, residents and visitors, and the prevention of flooding through management of assets and water levels.

(b) Conservation value
To achieve or exceed the statutory obligations of the owners in relation to nature conservation and biodiversity value.

(c) Health and wellbeing
To achieve or exceed the statutory obligations of the owners to provide public access to the countryside and to maintain a public navigation.