Community plans for Montgomery

THE Canal & River Trust is to host a public meeting at Abermule to give local residents a say on the type of community activities they would like to see along the Montgomery Canal.

The Trust tells that it will be working with the 14 organisations which make up the Montgomery Canal Partnership and aims to fully restore the canal as a haven for people and nature, and for this have received a £160,200 development grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Views of local people

The funding includes the opportunity to stage community activities, so it is now seeking the views of local people and other interested parties to see what type of activities they might like to take part in. The picture is of Aston Nature Reserve that is to be enlarged.

The community activities are scheduled as:

• Related to the canal heritage, its future or its wildlife.

• Of a recreational nature or to develop skills.

• Delivered through taster sessions, community events or family-fun days.

Montgomery Canal Community Development Officer, Sylvia Edwards, remarks:

"Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund support and National Lottery players, Glandŵr Cymru has an exciting opportunity to put together a package of community activities focused on the Montgomery Canal. Now we want the public's views to help us put together a programme for everyone.

"To realise the full heritage and recreational potential of this restoration project, Glandŵr Cymru wants to involve as many people as possible within the canal corridor through a wide range of community activities."

The consultation meeting is to be held in the Abermule Community Centre between 10.00 am and 12.00pm on Saturday 31st January.