Funding for Basingstoke Canal Electric Boat

Fundraising success for Basingstoke Canal trip boat

Lansbury Estates is delighted to hear that the Basingstoke Canal Society has reached its fundraising target of £165,000 to commission and build a new electric boat for public canal trips. As a supporter of the project with a corporate donation, the new boat, ‘Kitty II’ will help support the future of public use of the canal and conserve its unique wildlife.

The Basingstoke Canal Society has announced that they have secured all the funds required to proceed with the ordering and production of the Society’s new electric trip boat. Brayzel Narrowboats will be building the new Kitty II trip boat, and it is hoped to have it in the water for the spring and summer 2024 boat trips.

The last £75,000 investment required came from a successful Your Fund Surrey grant application. In total, over £165,000 has been raised and, in addition to Your Fund Surrey grant, this has been achieved through the generosity of Woking residents.

The Basingstoke Canal is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) so it is particularly important to protect its environment with this new ‘greener’ trip boat and new charging points for other boaters too, which will be installed to kick-start the electrification of the canal alongside the new trip boat. The new electric Kitty II will also be designed to be better adapted for wheelchair use and have better facilities for all users.

Read more on the Basingstoke Canal Authority website: www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk