Memorandum submitted by Powys County Council
I write to advise you that Powys County Council
has been working with British Waterways on the sustainable regeneration
of the Montgomery Canal in Wales for the past 18 years, including
the development of the ground-breaking Conservation Management
Strategy for the canal corridor by the Montgomery Canal Partnership,
led by British Waterways, the implementation of which is delivering
improvements in European-protected biodiversity, nationally important
built heritage, recreational use by local people and the contribution
of the canal to the local economy.
During this period of partnership working we
have achieved a significant investment into the canal corridor
and recently the Partnership has been successful in securing some
£500,000 of Welsh Assembly Government and European-development
funding for the Powys Canal Tourism project. We are continuing
to work with British Waterways to raise awareness of the regeneration
benefits of inland waterways nationally in Wales and British Waterways
has been a committed and capable partner with a track record of
deliver, with clear expertise and professionalism in their field.
The County Council values the relationship with
British Waterways and as a consequence would ask the committee
to recognise the positive work being undertaken within Powys in
relation to the regeneration of canals for tourism use and the
local economy. We accept the pressures on all public sector organisations
at this time, and can understand the difficult decisions that
have been taken, however in our view this in no way should undermine
British Waterways' ability to act as a valuable partner in regeneration
initiatives within Powys.
J Gareth Thomas
Economic Regeneration Manager
Powys County Council
March 2008
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