The Society’s AGM took place on November 30, 2024. Once the formal business had concluded, including the election of a new Trustee Barbara Cowie, Rich Harrison of Canal and River Trust gave a comprehensive update on the restoration work that is currently taking place on the Montgomery Canal in Wales under the terms of an award of £15.4m in 2021 from the Levelling Up Fund.
As well as describing the engineering challenges of the various projects, Rich explained how the Trust was engaging the local community in their plans and finding opportunities to involve local schools in various aspects of the work. Rich also emphasised the importance of the canal both historically, in the development of the area, and currently, in the development of the local economy and the conservation of important natural species.
Rich emphasised that the work was being carried out in line with the agreed Conservation Management Strategy and involved Habitat agreements with Natural Resources Wales and Planning permissions from Powys County Council.
He summarised the ongoing activities as follows:
Dredging
Dredging of the four-mile stretch between Maerdy and LLanymynech is divided into phases. Previous phases have seen 4,500 tonnes of material removed from the canal and stored in special holding areas to dry out after which they will be partly reused in later projects, eg for bridge embankments. The current phase sees dredging taking place from Four Crosses to Carreghofa. The final phase from Carreghofa to Llanymynech has been deferred until Walls bridge has been rebuilt so that the dredged material can be moved to the holding site by water.
Bridges
Walls Bridge
The design has proved more complicated than expected due to the need to find sufficient space to raise Carreghofa Lane above the canal while meeting modern safety standards. The design also needs to meet the local community’s desire for the towpath to continue under the bridge.
A decision on the planning application is awaited with the hope that this will allow construction to start in March 2025. Tenders received demonstrate that the project can be funded from the allocated budget but the Welsh Government will be asked to agree to extend the period of funding until February 2026 and the work is dependent on permission being received.
Williams Bridge
It has proved impossible to design a fixed bridge that meets modern road safety standards and can be contained within the available land. A new design has therefore been created for a lift bridge similar to one installed on the Rochdale Canal (Grimshaw Lane bridge 75A). This can be built for half the cost of a fixed bridge.
Tender documents should be issued in January and a planning application will be submitted and processed over the next few months. Consultations with the local community are ongoing with the need to close the road for 5 months being a key issue.
It is hoped to start construction in July 2025 . The bridge will be prefabricated offsite then installed on a prepared base.
Reserves
Wern
A design for an extended/improved open water and wetland habitat at Wern has been completed and the necessary land acquisition agreed. The reserve will extend to four hectares with 1 hectare of open water. Tenders have been received that indicate that the work can be carried out within budget. It has transpired that the project will require planning permission and an application will be submitted with a view to work starting in April 2025.
Vyrnwy
The design for this reserve adopts an innovative approach with river-connected ‘backwaters’ that mimic the conditions on the river itself. It will be created on the flood plain so that the water area will vary up to a maximum of four hectares out of a total site with twelve hectares of land habitat. The result will be a series of very diverse habitats. The design requires a large amount of excavation and it is planned to place the spoil against the current canal embankment so that only a small proportion will need to be taken away.
There is much work to do with consultation, planning and tenders so the current plan to start the project by March 2025 sets a challenging timetable.
Aberbechan Aqueduct
Leakage from this structure had become so great that its integrity was at risk. The aqueduct is essential for the maintenance of water levels in the Special Area of Conservation.
Repairs to the aqueduct, channel and arches have stabilised the structure and stopped most of the leaks but flood conditions prevented some of the planned work at river level and stonework repairs will be carried out in 2025. This work should create opportunities for apprentices and volunteers.
The Future
Lottery funding has been obtained towards the development work needed to find a solution to the instability of and leakage from Vrynwy Aqueduct. Once a plan has been formulated and approved, it is hoped that full funding will be awarded for the work to take place from 2026 – 2028.
Initial estimates suggest that developing a solution for the dropped bridges at Maerdy and Ardleen will require £400k for the development work and up to £11m for full delivery.
Conclusion
The current work will create four miles of restored waterway, two new bridges, access for a new weed boat to maintain the dredged length, improved access for paddle sports and towpath users, and better information/interpretation for visitors.
New/extended nature reserves will produce about 15 hectares of diverse land habitat as well as open water areas. The new floodplain reserve will create a natural habitat for floating water plantain.
The current project will form a firm base and stepping stones for a bright future for the Montgomery Canal.