Memorandum submitted by Monmouthshire,
Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust
My name is Christopher Morgan; I hold the position
of Chairman of the Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canals
Trust. I have been on the committee of the Trust since 2000 and
am currently in my second tenure as Trust Chairman.
The Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny
Canals Trust (The Trust) was formed in 1984, by an amalgamation
of voluntary organisations dedicated to the regeneration of the
Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal through Newport and Cwmbran in
South Wales.
The Trust has charitable status, and is managed
by volunteers. The Trust is an accredited member of ENTRUST and
manages landfill tax rebates towards its regeneration projects,
one of which is currently part of the New Deal training scheme
for socially excluded people in the City of Newport.
Representatives of the Trust committee of management
work with officers and elected councillors of Newport, Torfaen
and Caerphilly local authorities to promote and regenerate sections
of the canal in their ownership.
WORKING WITH
BRITISH WATERWAYS
The Trust has had an excellent working relationship
with British Waterways (BW) for many years, both on a local and
latterly a national basis. This Partnership has developed so many
positives for the Mon & Brec Canal and its communities.
We have worked with BW since 1996 to develop
a successful Regeneration Partnership involving local authorities,
community groups and schools. We were successful enough to get
through to the final phase of the recent Big Lottery Living Landmarks
scheme, the Partnership being awarded £250,000 to take the
scheme forward.
The many public events we organise would not
be possible without the assistance of BW, our working relationship
adds to the positive visitor experience. We work together to address
potential health and safety issues.
BW's technical advice has been a major asset
in the regeneration of four locks on the canal in Newport, creating
new moorings at South Sebastopol in Torfaen, and for the corridor
study of the Crumlin Arm for Caerphilly Council. We have all worked
together with our European Partners in two INTEREG projects, the
benefits of which are felt not only in Wales, but also in Devon,
Northern Ireland, and the Netherlands.
This project could not have been the success
it was without BW's support.
The Trust and BW have worked together on a tree
and vegetation survey, we also conducted a complete towing path
access survey, the results achieved an "access for all"
philosophy that enabled plans to be drawn up for improved access
to the canal for the whole community. The Trust works with BW
to promote the Welsh Canals at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth
Wells.
We have worked with BW in the provision of water
points and benches along the canal, paid for by a legacy left
to the Trust. We are currently working with BW and local boat
owners to set up a working party to help remove debris from the
currently drained section of canal.
A major success in our working partnership was
the development of bilingual leaflets promoting the canal in the
Welsh language, as well as tourist interpretation works at Goytre
Wharf.
REGENERATION
The establishment of a marina by the River Usk
in the City of Newport will reinvigorate the community and create
jobs. This will happen because of the selfless interest and technical
advice from British Waterways. The ultimate gain will be to the
whole of the Welsh Waterways, when Newport achieves this dream
in 2012.
The decision for BW to pull out of the Cotswolds
Scheme, must have been a hard one for an organisation that is
dedicated to sustainable regeneration, our sympathy also lies
with the Cotswolds Canals Trust and its Partners, but it is all
down to economics.
The disastrous breach that occurred at Gilwern
on 16th October 2007 shocked everyone. The speed in which British
Waterways set about checking the integrity of the rest of the
canal shows how professional they are. The £15 million costs
of the works to reopen the canal have to come from somewhere.
CONCLUSION
1. In my opinion it is the DEFRA cut in
subsidy to BW that has caused this funding shortfall, BW had to
support the Mon & Brec and the £34 million annual income
to the Welsh economy that the canal attracts. The Mon & Brec
canal is a major tourist magnet for South Wales.
2. I would like to urge the Committee to
encourage British Waterways to continue to work with existing
partners, and indeed not to defer from creating new partnerships;
there will be other opportunities. BW's restoration credentials
are second to none, look at the inspiration that is the Falkirk
Wheel, as an example.
3. The waterway network in South Wales can
live again, if they are allowed to, the communities can then thrive
again. BW is an important spoke in the wheel of the regeneration
of the valleys.
The voluntary sector in Partnerships with British
Waterways should be at the heart of this sustainable renewal along
with the Welsh Assembly Government as set out in the Waterways
for Wales document (2003).
Mr Chris Morgan, Chairman
Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust
March 2008
| 
