Monmouth Senedd member praises improvements to canal
Peter Fox has specifically highlighted the access improvements to the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal at Gilwern.
The improvements will allow visitors to have better access over the summer period.
There have also been upgrades to the picnic area, making it accessible for wheelchair users.
The improvements are part of the 225th anniversary of the canal.
The canal has been previously highlighted in the news due to concerns over its sustainability, following restrictions on water abstraction from the River Usk.
The resource was recently granted an emergency short-term water supply to prevent it from running dry.
Mr Fox, a keen advocate for the canal, said: "Any project to improve access is a good news story.
"With these works being completed, and us hopefully now seeing an influx of visitors over the summer months, it's more important than ever that a long-term solution is found in supplying the canal with water."
He also announced his intent to continue discussions with the Welsh Government, the Canal and River Trust, and other stakeholders to secure the canal's future through a sustainable long-term water supply solution.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business News Wales
3 hours ago
- Business News Wales
Strata Florida Visitor Centre Reopens Thanks to Local Support
The visitor centre at the historical Strata Florida has reopened thanks to support from a local trust. Cadw, the Welsh Government's historic environment service, has joined forces with the Strata Florida Trust in a collaborative arrangement to safeguard and enhance the heritage site with local people now managing the site and visitor centre. Strata Florida – meaning 'Vale of Flowers' in Latin – is a medieval abbey in Ceredigion where generations of Welsh princes are buried, with the Cistercian abbey having stood on the banks of the river Teifi since 1184. The Strata Florida Trust's staff and volunteers, already working on the restoration of the Mynachlog Fawr farmhouse and farm buildings nearby, will manage the area as part of a pilot until October. The Trust runs a free-to-enter exhibition next door to the abbey, which tells the story of the farmhouse and the local and agricultural history, through a range of objects from within the farmhouse, from a spinning wheel to grandfather clock and historic tools. As part of Volunteers Week, the Minister for Culture Jack Sargeant, visited the site to pay thanks to the Trust, its staff and its passionate volunteers for their commitment to ensuring the abbey remains open and accessible. Latest stats show 30% of people in Wales have volunteered, with the Welsh Government investing more than £4.6 million in grant funding over the past three years through Wales Council for Voluntary Action. This has resulted in nearly 2,800 new volunteers aged 11-25 and over 6,300 new volunteers aged 25 plus – with a combined total of nearly 420,000 hours of volunteering taking place. The Minister said: 'Like many attractions, the Strata Florida visitor centre closed during the Covid pandemic but it has now had the opportunity to reopen, with Strata Florida Trust's dedicated staff and volunteers taking the lead. 'Volunteering is vital to the well-being of our local communities; not only is it good for those who give, but for those who benefit. Their commitment, along with that of the Trust's staff, has been instrumental in making this significant site of Welsh heritage available to visitors once again. Diolch yn fawr pawb.' To help in making Welsh heritage more accessible, the partnership is trialling free entry to the entire site, with visitors encouraged to make voluntary donations to support the ongoing conservation and operation of the nationally significant monument. Mick Taylor of the Strata Florida Trust, said: 'I'm delighted the Trust has partnered with Cadw for the benefit of Wales and beyond. 'Strata Florida is central to Welsh cultural identity, cherished nationally and internationally. Building on its legacy as a spiritual, political and literary centre with environmental lessons to teach, we're working to transform the site for future generations.' The site will be staffed daily from 10am to 4pm until 31 October.
Business News Wales
14 hours ago
- Business News Wales
£150,000 Investment Supports Restoration of Historic Cliff Railway Carriages
A £150,000 investment by the Development Bank of Wales in the Cliff Railway in Aberystwyth has put the iconic tourist attraction on track for a bumper season. 75,000 visitors are expected to experience the newly refurbished Victorian railway carriages this year. Run by Constitution Hill Limited, Aberystwyth Cliff Railway is the second longest electric funicular cliff railway in Great Britain at 778 feet long. It's been an Aberystwyth landmark since 1896 and was electrified in 1921 before becoming a Grade II listed structure in 1987. The loan from the Development Bank has been used to carry out essential maintenance work to the Victorian carriages. Having safeguarded 20 jobs and created two new jobs, the investment has been welcomed by the First Minister of Wales who visited the Cliff Railway with colleagues Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Julie James MS, Minister for Delivery/Counsel General. Eluned Morgan, First Minister of Wales, said: 'Tourism is one of the most important industries in Wales, contributing over £6.2 billion to Welsh GDP and more than 172,000 jobs. 'I'm pleased the Welsh Government, via the Development Bank, is providing support so that attractions like the Cliff Railway can bring in visitors, create new jobs and continue their important contribution to the local economy in Aberystwyth.' The Victorian carriages are powered by motor and high-tensile steel cables supported by a sophisticated electronic safety system. They travel to the summit of Constitution Hill at four miles per hour, venturing through a deep cutting, where 12,000 tons of rock were excavated to allow the winding footpath to cross via a series of bridges overhead. Once at the top of the summit, visitors can enjoy spectacular views of Aberystwyth, Cardigan Bay and 26 Welsh mountain peaks. One of the world's largest camera obscuras offers a bird's eye view of 1000 square miles of land and seascape. There is also a children's play area, a gift shop, a cafe and plenty of open spaces for picnics and walking. Robert Gray, Director of Constitution Hill Limited, said: 'Our railway is an iconic attraction and an important part of local heritage. It's enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year, most of whom go on to spend time and money in the local area. The support of Welsh Government and the funding from the Development Bank has made the biggest difference to the future sustainability of the railway; allowing us to carry out essential maintenance work and invest in our facilities for the benefit of local people and visitors alike.' Clare Sullivan is a Regional Manager for the Development Bank. She said: 'The Cliff Railway is a well-established and popular tourism attraction that has continued to invest heavily with the introduction of indoor and weather resilient facilities to encourage visitors all year round. As an affordable day-out for the family, it's a must-do activity when in the local area so we're pleased to have been able to help keep it on track by funding the much-needed repair works.' The £150,000 loan for Constitution Hill Limited came from the £50 million Wales Tourism Investment Fund. Financed entirely by Welsh Government, the fund offers loans from £100,000 to £5 million with repayment terms of 10-15 years for distinctive, stand-out tourism projects that align with the priorities of Welsh Government.
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Wales Online
Huge upgrade to 28 miles of road in Wales finally finishes after 23 years
Huge upgrade to 28 miles of road in Wales finally finishes after 23 years The last traffic cone and contraflow has been removed from the A465 Heads of the Valleys road after a long, drawn-out saga It was described as one of the UK's 'most significant infrastructure investments' (Image: John Myers ) It is Wales' most-expensive road building project ever. And now, 23 years on since the work began, traffic can finally run smoothly again in an area which has caused traffic misery for motorists. On Friday night the last traffic cone and contraflow was removed from the A465 Heads of the Valleys road. The long-awaited moment marked the completion of a 28-mile upgrade which began in 2002 and cost £2 billion. The project had been described by Welsh Government minister Jane Hutt as "one of the most significant infrastructure investments in the whole of the UK." Work to convert the A465 into a dual carriageway began in 2002 and has been carried out step by step ever since. The road links the M4 by Neath with the A40 dual carriageway at Abergavenny and ultimately the midlands of England. The final stage of the project - the section between Hirwaun and Dowlais - began in 2001. Now complete, 17.7km of new dual carriageway has been put in place, along with 6.1km of side roads, more than 14km of active travel routes, 38 new culverts to channel water, 30 new bridges and 28 retaining walls. The new road will be a 70mph dual carriageway with six junctions. How construction looked during the project (Image: Welsh Government ) The Welsh Government say the scheme has created more than 2,000 new jobs with over half of those employed living in the local area, employing 158 apprentices with just under half from the valley's region, helping to support education and skills training. As well as economic benefits the project has also created a series of environmental benefits, the Welsh Government adds. Species such as the great crested newt and marsh fritillary butterfly have been relocated and new habitats created for bats, dormouse and lapwing, and more than 55,000 trees have been planted locally, rising to an expected 120,000 by the end of the programme. Wales' transport minister Ken Skates previously said: "This project is an incredibly impressive piece of engineering and a fantastic example of how targeted investment in road infrastructure can deliver on many levels, providing jobs for the local community, improving accessibility, supporting education and skills, alongside delivering environmental benefits. "It's been a complex project which has not been without its challenges, and I would like to thank everyone who has played their part in helping us to deliver one of the largest road projects in the UK.' Article continues below Keith Jones, of the institution of civil engineers, told the BBC: "As a whole, the Heads of the Valleys project is one of the UK's biggest road upgrade projects for many years "And what's been so challenging is keeping the existing road operational while the work has gone on in some challenging and bleak terrain."
