£5m investment secured for Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
Concerns the canal was going to 'dry up' after a period of extreme hot weather experienced this year and new charges surrounding water licensing regulations led to campaigners 'upping the ante.'
Campaigners took their message of 'Save The Mon and Brec' to the Senedd where a debate was held on July 9.
Now, the Welsh Government have pledged to help preserve the canal.
Protesters outside the Senedd campaigning to save the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal (Image: NQ) £5 million is being invested to upgrade a pumping station in Brecon to help support the current water supply arrangement and possibly extend it.
A formal statement made on July 17 by Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs reads: 'I intend to prioritise capital funding of up to £5m 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.'
Protesters outside the Senedd campaigning to save the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal (Image: NQ) Campaigners are overwhelmed by the news and reaction has been strong.
Activist group Preserve and Protect issued the following statement:
'The Welsh Government announced that "it intends to prioritise capital funding of up to £5m within its budget to upgrade the pumping station, which is supporting the current temporary agreement.
'This is great news for the Mon & Brec canal and is as a direct result of everyone's campaigning, the petition, and the Senedd rally.'
Inland Waterways Wales said: 'IWA hugely welcomes Huw Irranca-Davies's statement yesterday on the future of the Mon & Brec. Our campaign along with Preserve & Protect The Mon & Brec Canal & others has seen results.
'This emergency Welsh Gov funding is a first piece of the puzzle. The Task & Finish Group must act faster now for a fair, lasting solution.
'The Mon & Brec is vital to communities, boaters, businesses & wildlife. It deserves a future as rich as its past.'
Protesters outside the Senedd campaigning to save the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal (Image: NQ) The Canal and Rivers Trust argued that more long-term solution surrounding water licensing should be introduced.
It said: 'The Canal & River 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 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. 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.'
Since 2017, the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal has been required to hold a water abstraction licence to draw water from the River Usk — a resource it had used freely for over two centuries.
Now, under new licensing rules, the Canal and River Trust Wales must liaise with Natural Resources Wales to extract water.
The charity is struggling with water charges reportedly reaching tens of thousands of pounds per week.
In April, an emergency water supply agreement was reached between the Canal and River Trust and Welsh Water, but it was made clear that this solution is only temporary.
The future of the canal remains uncertain.
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