Possibility of more cash for Montgomery restoration
WITH the Montgomery Canal restoration being a cross border project there is the possibility of more cash.
With the project involving sections in North Shropshire and North Powys, it could possibly qualify for support jointly from the Mid Wales and Marches Growth Deals.
Pledged support
With this in mind two prominent members of Powys County Council have pledged their support for the multi-million-pound restoration of the canal.
Councillor James Evans, the council’s portfolio holder for economic development, housing and regulatory services and Councillor Elwyn Vaughan, leader of the council’s Plaid Cymru group, both said they would like to see the canal restoration included in the projects submitted for Mid Wales Growth Deal support.
Proposed discussion
They have advised John Dodwell, Montgomery Canal Partnership Chairman and Michael Limbrey, Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust Chairman, to develop a proposal in discussion with the Mid Wales Growth Deal team.
John Dodwell and Michael Limbrey are currently meeting councillors, politicians and potential funding partners on both sides of the border to drum up support for the restoration project. They are due to meet Powys County Council leader Councillor Rosemarie Harris and Nigel Brinn, corporate director for economy and environment, in March.
Formed project board
Shropshire Council has formed a project board to co-ordinate its support for the canal. Councillor Vaughan suggested that a project board could be established by the Mid Wales Growth Deal should the canal proposal be selected for support.
John Dodwell told since the canal restoration began in 1969, supported by the Prince of Wales, more than half of its 35 miles had been restored. This year marked the 40th anniversary of the opening of the canal’s Prince of Wales section outside Welshpool and it was hoped to complete the restoration to the town within 10 years.
Estimated cost £15m
The estimated cost of the remaining restoration work in Shropshire is £15m using contractors or £5m using volunteers. In Wales, the restoration would cost £24m with contractors or between £8-10m with volunteers.
During 2018/19, the estimated value of volunteer labour on restoration work was £56,000. The next big project facing the Partnership is rebuilding School House Bridge, Crickheath in the summer of 2021, with fundraisers having already raised £300,000 towards the £400,000 target.
Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, a derelict length of canal to Crickheath Wharf has been re-watered to extend the section connected to the Llangollen Canal by one and a half miles.