Home / Environment / Wales Canal Saved: Water Crisis Averted!
Wales Canal Saved: Water Crisis Averted!
5 Dec
Summary
- Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal faces a secure future with new funding.
- Over 1,000 jobs and £30m economy boost are now protected.
- Annual funding ensures consistent water supply for the 225-year-old waterway.
The 225-year-old Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal in Wales will no longer face the threat of running dry, thanks to a significant funding agreement. Fears of the waterway drying up within days, which would have jeopardized 1,000 jobs, have been alleviated by a commitment of £500,000 annually for five years. This joint provision from the Welsh government and the Canal and River Trust aims to ensure a stable water supply for the future.
The protected funding will provide the necessary resources to develop long-term resilience for this precious waterway. This investment is vital as over 1,000 jobs depend on the canal, which contributes £30m to the Welsh economy annually. The water supply was previously under threat due to restrictions on water extraction from the environmentally sensitive River Usk.
This secure future ensures the continued viability of businesses like Road House Narrowboats, which feared collapse. It also safeguards the canal's appeal, attracting an estimated three million visitors each year to its scenic 35-mile route through the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and a World Heritage Site.
