Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is vitally important for Wales’ cultural heritage and our tourism economy today. It supports the livelihoods of the communities surrounding it and the wildlife that call it home.
The canal relies on a sufficient supply of water to function. For over 200 years the canal’s owners, the Canal & River Trust, abstracted water from the River Usk to maintain supply under an exemption. However, in 2018, legislative changes meant that these abstractions now required a licence with conditions, designed to protect the River Usk which is a designated Special Area of Conservation. These conditions restrict the amount of water that can be taken from the river for the canal during low flows.
In a world of climate change and changing weather patterns this has presented water supply challenges for the canal. The public strength of feeling and support for the canal is evident, and I share the common goal of supporting the canal while addressing the urgent environmental challenges that threaten the ecological status of the River Usk.
In April of this year, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and the Canal & River Trust announced that they had reached an agreement on a short-term solution to supply the canal with additional water for the coming year. This agreement runs until April 2026. However, we are aware that Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water must work within the constraints of its operating licence obligations in respect of its charges and it cannot provide a water supply that puts other customers’ supply at risk. This arrangement has offered a lifeline for the canal, and although the Welsh Government is not involved in these commercial negotiations, we are pleased to hear this positive news, and that their discussions are continuing.
I am committed to working with others to find a long-term sustainable, workable solution to the difficulties faced by the canal, whilst also recognising that potential solutions may primarily fall within the remit of those directly involved in the management of the canal and its historic infrastructure.
I was therefore pleased to bring together those with an interest in the future of the canal at a meeting on 10 July. This included the Canal & River Trust, Local Authorities bordering the canal, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Natural Resources Wales and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales. Our focus was on what can be done collectively to support a sustainable solution to immediate and longer-term challenges facing the canal.
This was a positive discussion, and some interesting options were identified for further consideration. I have agreed to establish a Task and Finish Group to build on this positive discussion.
It was clear that the immediate priority is to rapidly identify the steps required to provide certainty to those whose livelihoods rely on the canal for the next year.
I intend to prioritise capital funding of up to £5m within my budget to upgrade the pumping station, which is supporting the current temporary agreement. I have asked my officials to engage immediately with Dŵr Cymru to progress the necessary works this year. I hope this will provide the basis for the arrangement to be put on a longer-term footing. This is a significant indication of Welsh Government commitment to the future of the canal.
The Task and Finish Group will provide the space to develop further options to build resilience in the canal’s capacity and identify how any capital works and ongoing costs of the water supplied will be met. This will require a collective endeavour, and a willingness from all partners to contribute to a sustainable solution.
We all want the canal to prosper. A solution must be found that is workable and sustainable for the people of Wales - both now and for future generations. This will require finding ways to support the canal whilst also ensuring the ecological status of the River Usk Special Area of Conservation.