Neath & Tennant Canals Trust

Neath & Tennant Options Appraisal

Below are the Trust’s opinions on the above report.

The Feasibility Study advocates the restoration of the Tennant Canal and the Neath Canal from Ysgwrfa to Giant’s Grave. The proposals essentially correspond with the aspirations of the Trust. As such it is considered desirable to be seen to be supporting and welcoming to the whole package while having concerns over some details.
We were pleased there is unequivocal support for prioritising the urgent repair/restoration of the Aberdulais Aqueduct.

The real concern is over who will take the project forward, bearing in mind that studies in the past have not been implemented. Reference was made to forming some sort of “Corporate Partnership Body” .
The requirement for an overall strategy was acknowledged together with the need for NPT to facilitate the proposed  changes as the lead organization in some form of partnership.

The question of canal ownership remains a critical consideration.

Overall, we were pleased with the outcome. Hopefully the study will be published within a few weeks.

Neath & Tennant Canals Options Appraisal Report

Monday 9th June 2.00pm – 600pm

The Towers Hotel and Spa

Drop  to in to see the presentation. Q&A sessions 2.00pm and 4.00p

Complimentary refreshments

Given the Trust’s 50 year involvement with the restoration of these canals it has Stakeholder status so 2 trustees will be attending the morning session which is strictly by invitation. We hope as many members will attend the session detailed above when they will have the opportunity to make their views known.

The Trust’s view regarding the study is that restoration of the Aberdulais Aqueduct is of prime importance. Ultimately both canals should be restored to be fully navigable status but this can only be done in stages. It is totally against filling in any section of the canals

Feasibility study
We attended the stakeholder presentation on 4th December. We were satisfied with what was proposed.
We are extremely concerned about the Consultation exercise hence the letter below:

Feasibility study

NPTBC have obtained funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a Feasibility Study on the future of the canals in Neath. The work on this has started and is being undertaken by W.S. Atkins and Moss Naylor Young. We look forward to seeing and commenting on the study in due course.

AGM

The Trust’s Annual General Meeting will be held  at Lock House(British Legion) at 10.30 am on Friday 26th July 2024.

Heritage Volunteer Fair

Our stand at the Fair displayed photos of before and after of the work achieved by the Trust’s volunteers over the last 50 years. Visitors were very impressed at what had been achieved. They all felt that the Neath and Tennant Canals were very important to Neath heritage and were of great benefit to the community. Nearly all enjoyed walking the canals and quite a few reminisced about boat trips they had taken on the canal. Boat trips were obviously missed.

In conversation we heard about the towpath cleanups that Sustrans  had undertaken and and learnt about a canoe owner who had cleared a great deal of debris from the water. We intend to keep in touch over clean ups.

Anniversaries

In 2024 the Trust will be 50years old. To view its achievements go to “Restoration” in the website. It is now concentrating on lobbying and influencing decisions being made by the local authority to ensure the future of the Neath and Tennant canals.

The Tennant Canal will be 200 years old in 2024.

Fund Britain’s Waterways

The Trust has joined this campaign, led by the Inland Waterways Association, to improve funding for all Britain’s waterways, not just those owned by the Canal & River Trust. Cuts are being made on funding to CRT but crucial to the Neath & Tennant Canals are  the cuts being made to local authorities hence the withdrawal of payment of access to the Neath Canal as has been reported in the press.
As well as the canals importance in Neath’s heritage, access to the canals for wellbeing – walking, cycling, enjoying its natural environment- is a major benefit for the local community.

Aberdulais Aqueduct

Articles have appeared in Swansea Bay News and the Evening Post about the Aqueduct. These refer to the Citizen Space Release by Natural Resources Wales detailing its flooding report and the response to it by the Inland Waterways Association, the lead partner, in the campaign to restore the Aqueduct.
The Trust’s response can be found under “About Us”  “Activities”  “Saving the Aberdulais Aqueduct”.

2024

On January 1st Neath Council gave up the lease on the section of the Neath canal from Resolven north. The Trust will be keeping a careful watch on what happens there. When Neath took over the lease of the canal above Resolven is was newly restored, its restoration having won a prestigious award. It is now in a sorry state, needing a great deal of work.

We look forward to the implementing of the Neath Heritage Strategy. A lot of time was spent last year in consultations with the intention of ensuring that the Canals place in Neath’s industrial heritage is properly acknowledged.