We welcome Huw Irranca-Davies' commitment to finding Mon & Brec solution

We've also welcomed the Deputy First Minister's commitment to “working with others to find a long-term sustainable, workable solution” for the canal.

The water supply to the canal has been severely restricted since new legislation was enforced to limit the volume that can be supplied to it from the River Usk. A temporary agreement between Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) and the Trust has enabled ‘support water’ to be provided for the canal using DCWW's emergency pumping station at Manorafon – but this comes at a significant cost to the Trust.

After the debate in the Welsh Parliament on 9 July illustrated how much the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal means to so many people, and how much it contributes to the Welsh economy, heritage, ecology and communities, the Deputy First Minister has announced a decision to prioritise up to £5m of capital funding to refurbish the DCWW pumping station at Manorafon.

While this capital funding will provide greater resilience to sudden failure of the pumping station, Glandŵr Cymru 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. Any solution, to be sustainable, must also be workable for Glandŵr Cymru, which operates and maintains the canal itself, as well as for the numerous other organisations, businesses and communities who benefit from it.

We will continue to champion the beautiful ‘Mon & Brec’ and everything it offers, and urge all those involved to work together to secure its long-term future.