MBACT are very pleased to have been part of the petition which has reached over 11,500 signatories, well over the 10,000 signatories needed to bring the issue of the future viability of the Mon and Brec to the attention of the Senedd. We also thank our President Lord Michael German and our Vice President Richard Dommett for their work behind the scenes helping to facilitate the interim measures agreed to … Read more

From Newport City Council If you’re visiting Fourteen Locks, you might notice a regular resident no longer in its usual spot in the pond… Well don’t worry, the dragonfly hasn’t flown away for good, we’re just having it cleaned and renovated. It should be back on its perch sometime in the summer. Thank you to Newport CC. I am sure it will look marvellous when it gets back.

A letter has been sent to all members of MBACT encouraging them to sign the Senedd petition aimed at ensuring a water supply to the Mon and Brec canal. Text of the letter and links are reproduced below. (please note I apologise for and have corrected the misspelling)   Dear Friends You may be aware of some of the issues regarding the abstraction licences which are currently threatening the Monmouthshire … Read more

Canals and Rivers Trust (CRT) have produced a letter sent to many interested parties outlining some of the issues they are experiencing with water abstraction licenses and the restrictions being imposed on them. They are also highlighting the cost to ensure an adequate water supply against the backdrop of reduction in government funding. Restoring the Mon and Brec is a key objective of MBACT, and maintaining the water supply is … Read more

Heras fencing erected by MBACT to protect the breeding swans on the Mon and Brec canal.

See what a small number of volunteers can do in one morning. Work on the canal is being carried out by our volunteers and this is an example of the rubbish that was collected on Saturday 11th January at Cwmbran Retail Park. Our weekly work teams meet on a Friday and Saturday mornings, (weather dependent) and are currently doing vegetation management with the occasional litter picking session, depending on the … Read more

MBACT volunteers did a great job of clearing up on the Ty Coch to Pentre Lane stretch this weekend. Four bags ready for collection by Torfaen, and several members of the public commented on the good job the team were doing. The new volunteers are working towards the Welsh Baccalaureate qualification and need community service as part of this. What better way to improve the environment than to collect so … Read more

  Richard Dommett’s service to the canal was recognised by Newport City Council by naming of Lock 21 as Dommett’s Lock . Invited guests and MBACT volunteers witnessed the unveiling of the name post and the new lock gates installed recently. The design of the lock gates sprung from an idea Richard had, and the modular lock gates are no longer made of wood, and their projected life span is … Read more

Himalayan Balsam was identified on the canal south of Cwmbran, and our volunteers began removing some of it today at Ty Coch. We won’t be able to complete this because the plant will begin producing seeds soon and work will have to stop but our volunteers will be ready to go next year.