Canal set for £14m investment

With £14 million worth of investment set to be pumped into the Montgomery Canal, local users are being asked for their views on one of our favourite attractions.

As part of the Montgomery Canal Restoration Project, three surveys have been launched to find out the current views of people who visit.

The surveys are being carried out by Glandŵr Cymru (the Canal & River Trust in Wales) and Powys County Council, who are delivering the ambitious project to restore and revitalise parts of the Montgomery Canal.

The two organisations were successful in securing almost £14m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund for the project.

The three baseline surveys are being held before restoration works begin. The surveys are:

• Community Survey of the Canal (for those living nearby): www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CanalResidentsEng/
• Visitor survey of the Canal:www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CanalVisitorsEng/
• User survey of the Y Lanfa building, cottages and adjoining space: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/YLanfaEng/

The survey results will help the Trust and Council understand what people currently think of Montgomery Canal and Y Lanfa, how often they visit and the purpose of their visits. The Trust and Council will carry out other surveys as the project progresses and at the end of the project.

Cllr David Selby, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, said: “The Montgomery Canal Restoration Project will make a substantial contribution towards the wider, phased restoration of the Montgomery Canal, that when fully completed, will provide long-term economic, cultural, wellbeing and recreational benefits for local communities.

“However, it is important that we seek the views of the local community and visitors to Montgomery Canal and Y Lanfa to understand their current thoughts, how often they visit and the purpose of their visit. I would urge visitors to the Montgomery Canal and local residents to use this opportunity to make their opinions known by completing this survey.”

Jason Leach, Head of External Programme Delivery at Glandŵr Cymru (the Canal & River Trust in Wales), said: “The next phase of the restoration of the Montgomery Canal will bring many benefits to the community but it’s important we understand how local people use the canal and why they come to visit.

“We know that being by water is good for our mental and physical health so it’s wonderful that this next step of this restoration project is going ahead. Our canals have been reinvented as a place for people to spend their leisure time, get fit, enjoy the outdoors, and feel healthier so come for a visit.”

The surveys will close on 31 January 2023.

For general enquiries regarding the Levelling Up Fund in Powys, email UKLUF@powys.gov.uk