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.
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 identifying opportunities to involve local schools in various aspects of the work. Rich also emphasised the importance of the Montgomery 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 summarised the 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. A decision on the planning application is awaited with the hope that this will allow construction to start in March 2025. Although the project can be funded from the allocated budget, 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).
A planning application will be submitted and processed over the next few months.
Reserves
Wern
A design for an extended/improved nature reserve at Wern has been completed and the necessary land acquisition agreed. 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 area of twelve hectares. The result will be a series of very diverse habitats. The design requires a large amount of earth removal and the current plan to be on site by March 2025 sets a challenging timetable.
Aberbechan Aqueduct
Repairs to the Aqueduct have stabilised the structure and stopped most of the leaks but flood conditions prevented some of the planned work at river level and more masonry repairs will be carried out in 2025.
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.
