THE Welsh Government’s commitment to finding a solution for the future of the threatened Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal has been welcomed by waterways bodies. Lucy Wood reports…
The Mon & Brec, as previously reported, has suffered from water supply issues due to legislative changes imposed on the Canal & River Trust, which manages the canal, to protect the River Usk.
Following a debate in the Welsh Parliament illustrating the importance of the canal in terms of the economy, heritage, ecology and communities, Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies announced a decision to prioritise up to £5 million of capital funding to refurbish the Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) pumping station at Manorafon.
The trust said: “The water supply to the canal has been severely restricted since new legislation was enforced to limit the volume that can be supplied to it from the River Usk. A temporary agreement between Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and the trust has enabled ‘support water’ to be provided for the canal using DCWW’s emergency pumping station at Manorafon – but this comes at a significant cost to the trust.
“While this capital funding will provide greater resilience to sudden failure of the pumping station, the trust notes that the upgrade of this asset will not address the cost and operational issues for the trust itself that are the consequence of the new licence conditions. These issues must be addressed to secure the future of the canal.”
The trust continued: “The Deputy First Minister has, however, also acknowledged that the group working on longer-term solutions must ‘identify how any capital works and ongoing costs of the water supplied will be met,’ noting that this will require a collective endeavour. The trust welcomes this commitment. Any solution, to be sustainable, must also be workable for the CRT and the numerous other organisations, businesses and communities who benefit from it.
“The trust will continue to champion the beautiful Mon & Brec and everything it offers and urges all those involved to work together to secure its long-term future.”
Representatives from the Inland Waterways Association joined the Preserve & Protect the Mon & Brec Canal group and other local campaigners outside the Senedd to call for action. Paul Thomas, the IWA’s South West and South Wales region secretary, said: “The Welsh Government’s emergency investment is a vital first step to provide certainty to those whose livelihoods depend on the canal. But this job isn’t done. The new Task and Finish Group must move quickly and deliver a fair and lasting solution.
“The Mon & Brec is loved by communities, boaters, businesses and wildlife. It deserves a future as rich as its past.”
Mr Irranca-Davies, who is also the cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs, said: “The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is vitally important for Wales’s cultural heritage and our tourism economy today. It supports the livelihoods of the communities surrounding it and the wildlife that call it home.
“The canal relies on a sufficient supply of water to function. For more than 200 years, the canal’s owner, the Canal & River Trust, abstracted water from the River Usk to maintain supply under an exemption.
“However, in 2018, legislative changes meant that these abstractions now required a licence with conditions, designed to protect the River Usk which is a designated Special Area of Conservation. These conditions restrict the amount of water that can be taken from the river for the canal during low flows.
“In a world of climate change and changing weather patterns, this has presented water supply challenges for the canal. The public strength of feeling and support for the canal is evident, and I share the common goal of supporting the canal while addressing the urgent environmental challenges that threaten the ecological status of the River Usk.
“In April, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and the Canal & River Trust announced that they had reached an agreement on a short-term solution to supply the canal with additional water for the coming year. This agreement runs until April 2026. However, we are aware that Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water must work within the constraints of its operating licence obligations in respect of its charges and it cannot provide a water supply that puts other customers’ supply at risk. This arrangement has offered a lifeline for the canal, and although the Welsh Government is not involved in these commercial negotiations, we are pleased to hear this positive news, and that their discussions are continuing.
“I am committed to working with others to find a long-term sustainable, workable solution to the difficulties faced by the canal, whilst also recognising that potential solutions may primarily fall within the remit of those directly involved in the management of the canal and its historic infrastructure.
“I was therefore pleased to bring together those with an interest in the future of the canal at a meeting on July 10. This included the Canal & River Trust, local authorities bordering the canal, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Natural Resources Wales and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales. Our focus was on what can be done collectively to support a sustainable solution to immediate and longer-term challenges facing the canal. This was a positive discussion, and some interesting options were identified for further consideration. I have agreed to establish a Task and Finish Group to build on this positive discussion. It was clear that the immediate priority is to rapidly identify the steps required to provide certainty to those whose livelihoods rely on the canal for the next year.
“I intend to prioritise capital funding of up to £5 million within my budget to upgrade the pumping station which is supporting the current temporary agreement. I have asked my officials to engage immediately with Dŵr Cymru to progress the necessary works this year. I hope this will provide the basis for the arrangement to be put on a longer-term footing. This is a significant indication of Welsh Government commitment to the future of the canal.
“The Task and Finish Group will provide the space to develop further options to build resilience in the canal’s capacity and identify how any capital works and ongoing costs of the water supplied will be met. This will require a collective endeavour, and a willingness from all partners to contribute to a sustainable solution.
“We all want the canal to prosper. A solution must be found that is workable and sustainable for the people of Wales – both now and for future generations. This will require finding ways to support the canal while also ensuring the ecological status of the River Usk Special Area of Conservation.”
