Montgomery Canal - Restoration
The Montgomery Canal is a 34 mile long narrow canal running south from a junction with the Llangollen Canal at Frankton, crossing the Welsh border at Llanymynech and terminating at Newtown.
The canal was constructed in stages from 1790 to 1819, initially to transport lime for agricultural purposes.
After lying derelict for many years, it is being reborn as a cruiseway through the picturesque Welsh Marches.
Almost entirely rural, the canal is a true haven for wildlife and has many Sites of Special Scientific Interest along its route. More than half of the waterway is once again in water.
Restoration
Currently some sections of the Montgomery Canal are navigable, some are in water but blocked by dropped bridges etc and other sections are completely dry.
7 miles are now navigable at the northern end, connected to the national network, and 11 miles are navigable around Welshpool but isolated from the rest of the inland waterway network and not big enough to support viable canal-based businesses in the long term.
Without positive management, nature conservation interest would decline and the built heritage slowly deteriorate.
The Canal has great potential to help stimulate regeneration and economic growth, attracting visitors to the area and providing wider benefits to the people who live near by. Restoration is very innovative, particularly in terms of protecting conservation interests, through the creation of online and offline nature reserves and plans to reintroduce horse drawn boats in sensitive locations.
Through the full restoration of the Montgomery Canal, the intention is to create:
- A community resource, valued and used by all
- A corridor of opportunity that will provide a driving force for rural regeneration
- A restoration to navigation that respects, values and enhances the unique nature of the Montgomery Canal
- Sustainability at the heart of all management and development
The Waterways Trust
The Waterways Trust is developing a fundraising strategy to identify potential partners, funders and funding streams necessary to see the restoration of the Montgomery Canal through to completion
For more information on the project download the brochure (PDF 28KB)
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