Neath and Tennant Canals Feasibility Study – AtkinsRealis, 2026
Promoting Navigation
Having promoted the regeneration of the canals for over 50 years and participated in their restoration, the Trust finds the conclusions of the Report relating to navigation to be disappointing and concerning, not least as there are no references to previous studies which are of relevance
The Report is at odds with that produced by the same author(s) in 2002 (Atkins, Feasibility Study) which advocated the restoration of the entire length of the Neath Canal from Glynneath to Briton Ferry, primarily to establish a ‘critical length’ of navigation in addition to the Tennant and Swansea Canals which would be sufficient to attract boaters.
Such a requirement is supported in a comprehensive report by Bridge Economics and Hyder Consulting (2008) on the ‘Economic Appraisal of Restoration’ of the Neath and Tennant canals commissioned by NPTCBC, the Welsh Assembly Government and City and Council of Swansea – which notes ‘….. the earlier (2002) study by Atkins, to exploit this opportunity requires the achievement of sufficient critical mass.’
In pursuing such an outcome, the Report concludes that a partial scheme involving complete restoration/navigation from Ysgwyrfa to Giant’s Grave would be the most appropriate scheme and the one producing the highest Benefit/Cost Ratio (BCR).
In contrast, the present report at best seeks to repair/restore what currently exists whilst further severing navigation for ‘full size’ craft at Rheola, Neath Abbey and at Canal Green, Neath. The Report, however, concludes that the canal from Ysgwrfa to Resolven ‘could readily be restored to navigation by undoing the neglect of the last few decades since the previous restoration works’. Similarly, references to individual sections of both canals in Section 7 imply that ‘full navigation’ is possible and potentially desirable.
In relation to the proposed Hub at Canal Green and issues relating to the low bridges, attention is drawn to the ‘Enquiry by Design’ (2009) Study / Canalside Masterplan undertaken by the Prince’s Foundation for NPTCBC.
Based upon the Restoration Route Options in section 1.3 of the Executive Summary, the available continuous navigation for ‘full size’ canal boats with a beam of 2.2m (Section 14.2), will be limited to 13.5km (8.5 miles) compared to a ‘critical length’ over 30km (19miles) represented by the partial scheme advocated in the Bridge Economics Report.
As such, it is highly improbable that such a limited route milage advocated by the Report would attract the type and numbers of boats referred to in Section 9, whilst undermining the prospect of a 30 mile ‘South Wales Inland Waterway’ in conjunction with the Swansea Canal.
