New community cruise boat will give everybody in Milton Keynes a chance to take to the water

The MK Community Boat has this week been commissioned by the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust.

It will carry up to 12 passengers for cruises along the local canal from Spring next year.

Based on a 54ft long traditional narrowboat, the community boat will have an all-electric propulsion unit instead of a traditional diesel engine.

This will not only provide a unique experience by gliding almost silently along the canal, but also greatly reduce emissions, says the waterways trust.

The cruises will operate from Campbell Park marina on the Grand Union Canal, travelling as far north as Cosgrove and south down to Fenny Stratford.

The craft, which will be similar to the John Bunyan Community Boat in Bedford, will be fully accessible with an access lift for wheelchair users and toilet provision. It will run from March to December and carry up to 4,000 passengers a year.

It will be used for a wide variety of trips that offer something for everyone, including special Santa cruises at Christmas, Friday night ‘bubbles and bites’ events, relaxing days out and walkers' one way hops.

Funding for the boat has come from developers Crest Nicholson, via Milton Keynes Council, the Milton Keynes Community Foundation and Milton Keynes Parks Trust, together with donations from B&MK Trust members and volunteers.

It has been commissioned by the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, who act as advocates for a new Waterway Park linking the Grand Union Canal with the River Great Ouse in Bedford. The proposed Waterway Park will bring enormous benefits for local communities, supporting green recovery and sustainable economic growth.

Jane Hamilton, Chair of the Bedford and Milton Keynes Trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted be commissioning this new boat on 6th October. It will bring a new and exciting attraction to Milton Keynes. I hope all communities in Milton Keynes will come to Campbell Wharf and take a relaxing trip on the Grand Union Canal, seeing Milton Keynes from the Grand Union Canal. The boat will be accessible to all and in keeping with the ethos of Milton Keynes benefit from innovative all-electric power”.

Ranjit Singh, Director of Philanthropy at Milton Keynes Community Foundation said: “This is a project that we are really excited to fund here at Milton Keynes Community Foundation, not only will this create an amazing opportunity for people to take part in affordable activities on the community boat but it will also promote community development as well.

"Inclusivity is really important to us here at MK Community Foundation, so we are thrilled to support this new project that is focusing on being disability-friendly, while also caring for our environment, which is a growing concern as well, not only locally, but nationally”.