We are a local charity actively working with local Councils, Glandŵr Cymru (the Canal and River Trust in Wales) and other partners to improve and sustainably restore the Mon & Brec Canal for the benefit of the local community. We undertake on-the-ground restoration of the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal and run a successful interpretation centre at Fourteen Locks, Newport, where we have partnered with Newport City Council to run an “Education through Restoration” project with local schools. We operate a small number of passenger boats, taking school parties and families onto the water.
The aims of the Trust are to promote …
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- the improvement and maintenance of the navigable waterway from Brecon to Five Locks Pontnewydd.
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- sustainable regeneration of the canal from Five Locks, Pontnewydd to Newport and from Newport up to Cwmcarn
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- greater awareness of the economic benefit to local communities and businesses through tourism and leisure Activities.
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- education and interpretation through displays and presentations of the culture and history of the canal and its people.
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- personal health and well being. Angling, boating, cycling, walking and wildlife interests are of equal importance in the use of the canal corridor and will be enhanced by the achievement of the aims.
Our Structure
President
The Rt Hon, Lord German, OBE
“….Our inland waterway network is a unique and precious national asset, which has the potential to transform places, enrich lives, improve mental and physical health, support communities and promote economic development…”
Vice-President
Wyn Mitchell, BSc,(Hons,) DipTP, MRTPI(rtd.), C.Build E MCABE Retd.
Our Trustees
Revd. John Collier
Wyn Mitchell
Bernard Illman
Jayne Collier
Robert Coldwell
Operational Team
Chairman – Revd. John Collier *
Secretariat – David Hyde
Community Boat Manager (DPA) – Captain Andrew Ward AFRIN
Community Boat Operations Director – Bob Coldwell *
Community Boat Bookings Manager – Martin Gillard
Community Boat Project Advisor – Wyn Mitchell *
Community Boat Training Officer – Steve Wride
Regeneration Consultant – Richard Dommett MBE ***
Operational Support and Special Projects – Bernard Illman * ***
Special Projects – Richard Smith**
Fourteen Locks Centre Manager – Laura Thomas **
Fourteen Locks Centre Assistant Manager – Jodie Morgan
Fourteen Locks Centre Operational Director – Richard Smith **
Volunteer Officer – Jayne Collier
Membership Officer – Fourteen Locks Canal Centre
Chaplain – Revd. John Collier *
Webmaster / Social Media – Ryan Davies
Archivists – Ray Haydon
* – MBACT Ltd Director
** – Fourteen Locks Canal Centre Ltd Director
*** – MBACT Regeneration Ltd Director
Partner Representatives
Inland Waterways Association – Tony Pugh
Torfaen Canal Team – Hugh Woodford
Glandŵr Cymru / Canal & River Trust – David Morgan
Islwyn Canal Association – Richard Wysom
M&B – COG – Boat Operators – Nigel Curtis
Monmouthshire and Brecon Canals Regeneration Partnership Group
The Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust was an enthusiastic and active founder member of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canals Regeneration Partnership Group which was founded in 1996. Other founder members included Newport County Council and the then British Waterways Board (BWB). The work of the BWB has been taken over by the Canal & River Trust since 2012.
The partners are working together to achieve the sustainable restoration of the southern un-navigable section of the canal and support CRT in the Improvement and maintenance of the navigable section of canal. Trust member are working to encourage members of the community to take part as active volunteers. These volunteers, through training, assist with canal restoration, environmental cleansing, education, and informing others including visitors in the importance of health and well-being activities using the waterway environment.
The Partnership Members
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- Newport City Council
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- Monmouthshire County Council
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- Torfaen County Borough Council
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- Caerphilly County Borough Council
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- Powys County Council
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- Glandŵr Cymru, (the Canal & River Trust in Wales)
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- Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust
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- Bannau Brycheiniog National Park
Affiliations and Memberships
We are affiliated with the Inland Waterways Association
We are also members of:
WCVA – WCVA is the national membership body for voluntary organisations in Wales
Fund Britain’s Waterways – Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW) is a coalition of organisations representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways. We are campaigning for national and local government to act now and protect the public benefit and natural capital of our waterways.
Brecon Beacons Tourism – a local body representing Brecon Beacons tourism businesses
National Community Boats Association – The National Community Boats Association or NCBA is a charity that provides support to Community Boating Organisations.
European Route of Industrial Heritage – the tourism information network of industrial heritage in Europe
Inland Waterways International
