Memorandum submitted by Caerphilly County
Borough Council
Caerphilly County Borough Council own and are
responsible for the maintenance and development of 6km length
of the Crumlin Arm of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Reflecting
local topography the Crumlin Arm is located on the steep sided
Ebbw valley and passes through a mix of sub-urban and rural landscapes.
The Council has been working with British Waterways
as members of the regional partnership for the restoration of
the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. This relationship has been
built up over a number of years because of mutual interests in
the long-term retention and enhancement of the Canal and the potential
health, leisure and economic development opportunities that the
Canal affords.
I wish to record the Council's appreciation
of the support and assistance that British Waterways has provided
in supporting and contributing to the Council's canal regeneration
and enhancement strategy for the Crumlin Arm. Our partnership
has evolved since 2003 when British Waterways advised on and contributed
specialist economic and landscape advice during the preparation
of the Council's Canal Corridor Study. This culminated in 2007
with the support and guidance British Waterways provided to the
regional Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal Partnership through which
my Council and neighbouring Authorities sought up to £25
million of Big Lottery funds for improvements and development
of the regional canal network.
During the period of the Council's partnership
with British Waterways we have achieved a number of locally important
investments on the Crumlin Arm that have been to the benefit of
the residents of Caerphilly CBC. In particular my Council has
particularly valued BW's willingness to share information and
support our own efforts to maintain the waterway.
The wider recognition of the economic and development
value of inland waterways to Wales and southeast Wales in particular
is much to do with the political spotlight that British Waterways
has brought to the waterways system. Through the 2005 Waterways
for Wales consultation and its full involvement and ongoing support
of the WAG All Party Group on Waterways British Waterways has
created increased awareness of major benefits that regeneration
and enhancement of historic waterways can deliver to the local
economy, environment and associated healthy living.
Through our relationship with British Waterways
we have been able to add value to our local canal and have seen
the significance of canals gain greater recognition as important
elements of Welsh industrial heritage and culture. Understanding
the pressures on all public sector organisations at this time
my Council can understand the difficult decisions that have been
taken however in our view this in no way undermines British Waterways
as a valuable partner.
Caerphilly County Borough Council
March 2008
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