Memorandum submitted by Newport City Council
1. Newport City Council is a key partner
in the restoration of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. We have
been working with British Waterways on the restoration of the
canal corridor since 1996. The partnership includes Torfaen County
Borough Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council, The Monmouthshire,
Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust and British Waterways. Key
outputs of the restoration will be the extension of a navigable
canal to Newport with a connection to the River Usk and the restoration
of the Crumlin Arm. During our period of partnership working we
have achieved a significant investment into the canal corridor
within the Newport City boundary where there have been notable
successes in the rebuilding of Bettws lane Bridge, the restoration
of Bettws lane Lock, Ty-Ffynon Lock, Gwastad Lock, Gwastad Mawr
Lock, and Cefn Wharf Lock together with dredging and other improvements
to the channel itself.
2. The partnership has successfully worked
together under the leadership of British Waterways to secure European
funding under the INTEREG scheme. We have also partnered with
British Waterways and Torfaen County Borough Council in running
an Environmental Task Force under the New Deal Training Scheme
which had the dual objectives of restoring locks and providing
much needed training for unemployed young people. Most recently
we achieved initial success with the Living Landmarks Big Lottery
Fund in securing £250,000 which has allowed further work
to be undertaken to develop the feasibility and costs of the restoration.
We would not have been successful in these bids without the enthusiastic
support and guidance of British Waterways staff. British Waterways
is a committed and capable partner with clear expertise and professionalism
in their field. Their ongoing support for the restoration of the
Monmouthshire and Brecon canal brings credibility to the project
and is therefore crucial.
3. Newport City Council and Newport Unlimited
(Wales only Urban Regeneration Company) have been working with
British Waterways on the waterfront regeneration of the Crindau
area in Newport. This important development area close to the
city centre will provide a new waterside destination with potential
for canal and river craft moorings and a marina. The scheme will
act as a catalyst and centrepiece for the regeneration of the
wider run down area, much in need of investment.
4. Understanding the pressures on all public
sector organisations at this time we can appreciate the very difficult
decision that has been taken to ensure the future of the Monmouthshire
and Brecon Canal and the consequential effect to the Cotswolds
canal restoration. That is regrettable, as the Cotswold canal
scheme also has valuable regeneration outputs. I sympathise with
our colleges at the Cotswold canal scheme and believe that their
project is also of major importance. However, it goes without
saying that we support British Waterways difficult decision as
the needs of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal are greater at
present, as a consequence of a major breach, closing a large part
of a major tourism resource for Wales.
5. As an organisation who values our relationship
with British Waterways we would ask the committee to recognise
the positive work being undertaken within Newport relating to
the regeneration and canal restoration.
Wyn Mitchell
Planning Services Manager
Newport City Council
March 2008
| 
