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.
