Villagers along the Mon & Brec fear it running dry

THERE IS FEAR amongst the residents living by the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal of it running dry.

They fear if it is allowed to run dry it would would devastate communities, Janet Friend reports.

Last month, people were warned the Mon & Brec could run dry in days after limits were placed on pumping water from what is classed as the environmentally sensitive Usk.

Not money

There is no money to pay the demand of yearly thousands of pounds to keep the pumps running and so save the canal.

It is not only visitors to the canal, but boaters using it and businesses relying on it that will be affected should it dry-up and ultimately be closed.

One pub owner of the Coach & Horses in Llangynidr by the canal critisised the decision telling it expected to lose about 50% in customer fallout if the canal ran dry.

The Welsh government told it recognised the value of the canal but any arrangement between the Canal & River Trust, and Welsh Water was a 'commercial decision' in which it should play no role.

Signed petition

However, more than  13,000 people have so far signed a petition to help save the canal, that runs from the north of Newport to Brecon, through the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, also known as the Brecon Beacons.

Under new restrictions to protect rivers due to climate change, legislation means licences were now required to limit the amount of water that could be taken from the Usk.

Yet Welsh Water will allow the water to be taken for cash! Sign the petition.