Torfaen Council has recently refused a planning application for a car hardstanding which was planned to be located within a disused canal lock chamber adjacent to Greenhill Road in Cwmbran. The canal here was culverted many years ago, with the lock chamber itself partially filled with earth. MBACT had submitted a detailed policy objection to the granting of the application. We argued that the proposal, if allowed, would prejudice the … Read more

We are pleased to see that Wales Online have highlighted the water problems and poor condition of the Crumlin Arm canal adjacent to the Fourteen Locks Canal Centre as documented in our recent post on our MBACT website, and complaints by residents and canal users. We would encourage local people to raise their concerns with their local Councillors directly. This has the biggest impact. Thanks for your support. You can … Read more

Our Trust has been extremely concerned about the lack of maintenance on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal in Newport. We have also, like many local residents, been alarmed by the lack of water in both the Crumlin Arm, and main line of the canal north of Newport. Our views on the lack of water in the Crumlin Arm were set out in our news article in May, and received much … Read more

In recent years, much criticism has been laid at the door of Newport City Council for lack of maintenance on both the Crumlin Arm and the main line from Malpas North. Whilst a substantial amount of public money has been spent recently on improving the towpath under the Active Travel initiative to provide a safe and convenient route for walkers and cyclists, the visual attractiveness of this route is severely … Read more

We recently responded to Caerphilly County Borough Council’s consultation on their “Draft Lower Ebbw and Sirhowy Valleys Masterplan”. You can find more information and a copy of the masterplan here on Caerphilly’s website: https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/involved/Consultations/draft-lower-ebbw-and-sirhowy-valleys-masterplan You can find our response in this PDF document – https://mbact.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/MBACT-Comments-on-Draft-Caerphilly-Masterplan-1st-Mar-2022.pdf We are disappointed that Caerphilly CBC are not utilising the huge potential of the canal. “Whilst the potential of the canal has been mentioned there … Read more

The Canal and River Trust / Glandŵr Cymru (CRT) has recently published a interesting set of videos as a “Virtual Open Day on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal“. The videos were all filmed around a section of the canal that was undergoing maintenance at Mamhilad. Our MBACT Chairman the Revd. John Collier contributed to a video focusing on wellbeing, and the peace and tranquillity of the canal. You can visit … Read more

Open letter to the Leaders of Newport City Council, Torfaen County Borough Council, and Caerphilly County Borough Council. Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust is bitterly disappointed that local Councils have not applied for UK Government Levelling Up funding to restore our canal. Our Trust congratulates the successful partnership – comprising Powys County Council, Wrexham County Borough Council, Denbighshire County Council and the Canal and River Trust, supported by local … Read more

MBACT is very pleased to report that the Bridge 46 to Five Locks section of canal is now finally open again after a long closure due to the installation of drainage works for the adjacent new housing development. We recognise the work that the Bridge 46 Facebook Group has done in highlighting the very long delay in returning the canal south of Bridge 46 to navigation with the resultant detrimental … Read more

We are delighted to announce that we have a new Manager for the Fourteen Locks Canal Centre. The new manager is Laura Thomas. Laura is well known on the Mon & Brec canal and has her own boat moored at Llangattock. Laura has previously worked as a manager for the Big Issue and also in the Care sector. Laura started at the Centre this week, ably supported by Assistant Manager … Read more