Don’t bale out on Montgomery Canal now
Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust (MWRT) says providing a 12-month extension is the best way to offer value for money, as baling out now would leave the project incomplete.
The previous government promised £14 million under the ‘Levelling Up Fund’ and with planning, consultations and community engagement, not all the money can be spent in the limited period originally allocated (March 2025).
Michael Limbrey from MWRT explained: “Local canal charities have been working for many years to reopen the Montgomery Canal and millions of pounds and many thousands of volunteer hours have been invested in restoration, maintenance and conservation.
“The latest funding is for Powys County Council and the Canal & River Trust to build two new bridges on minor roads in Carreghofa, new nature reserves to safeguard the canal’s ecology and dredging to maintain the water supply.
“It has not been possible to complete the works within the short timetable required by Whitehall so a request has been made for more time to complete the project.
“We fully understand the government’s need to review national finances, but stopping now would mean that money spent so far would be wasted. Much better to complete the project now.”
Added Michael: “The canal has been part of our border landscape for more than 200 years. We have a detailed restoration strategy which recognises that doing nothing will mean the canal will deteriorate and the fragile species we have today will be lost. Our strategy
safeguards the canal ecology by controlling powered boat movements and by creating new
nature reserves.
“We know living canals attract both visitors and nature to an area. Restored canals stimulate the local economy but just as importantly encourage people to get outdoors to walk, canoe or cycle and so add to their wellbeing.”
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