Future of Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal at stake It faces A Uncertain Future.
South Wales only has this small Canal it's only 35 miles long is this a joke surely Wales provides the UK with enough water.
“The Mon and Brecon Canal is an important part of our historic industrial heritage that today still provides us with essential amenities.
“As well as being a green corridor with a fabulous ecosystem of wildlife and glorious nature, canal users utilise the canal for leisure and exercise to enhance our health and wellbeing in stunning surroundings.”
Now, under new licensing rules, the Canal and River Trust Wales must liaise with Natural Resources Wales to extract water.
The charity is struggling with the financial burden of these new requirements, with water charges reportedly reaching tens of thousands of pounds per week.
In April, an emergency water supply agreement was reached between the Canal and River Trust and Welsh Water, but it was made clear that this solution is only temporary.Paul Thomas, Secretary of the Inland Waterways Association Southwest and South Wales Region, warned that the canal’s future “hangs in the balance.”
He said: “Without immediate action this summer, the Mon and Brec could become unusable again by March 2026, with devastating consequences for businesses, boaters, wildlife and local communities.
"This isn’t just about boats and water — it’s about people’s livelihoods, homes, wildlife, industrial heritage, health, and the very identity of the area. The canal and the Usk must be treated as a single, interconnected ecosystem.”
