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Councillor Reeks asked: Having received £1.9 million of SPF funding from the then Conservative UK Government it has been great to see the money put to use transforming and relining the stretch of the Mon & Brecon Canal through Rogerstone and subsequent works in and around the 14 Locks Canal Centre. However, of late the water supply has dried up and is almost non-existent in places, with one of the causes attributed to the deliberate lack of waterflow from the Caerphilly County Council area. Can the leader confirm what efforts are underway with Caerphilly Council to reinstate this waterflow in order for the canal to be returned to a wet state again? Councillor Batrouni responded: The Newport canal system is a vital outdoor and ecological resource connecting multiple communities and supporting biodiversity. Ours is the lowest section of the network, with the main Mon Brec canal entering Newport from Torfaen, and the Crumlin Arm branching from Caerphilly. Low water level is a significant issue that affects the whole of the Mon Brecon canal and not just the Newport section. There is wide acknowledgement that for the canal to retain its integrity, there needs to be additional feed from a number watercourses and rivers including the river Usk, and there are ongoing conversations between Welsh Government, Canal and River Trust, NRW, Welsh Water and all Local Authorities (including NCC) to look for a collective solution to guarantee a sustainable water feed across the canal, with a task and finish group being stablished shortly. The Manor Road feed in Caerphilly, was closed by Welsh Water due to contamination, and there are no current abstractions in the main section of the canal. This means that at present, NCC is fully dependent on the water that flows from the upper sections of the canal and has no control about the amount of water in its section. Within our remit, thanks to SPF funding, there has been significant investment, and a comprehensive programme of work aimed to retain as much water as possible by • Clearing vegetation to reduce water loss and improve water flow. • Reshaping the canal to enhance water retention and stability. • Removing silt to increase water capacity and prevent blockages. • Repairing and installing headwalls, new lock gates and boards to prevent leaks and improve retention We will continue taking part in joint meetings with stakeholders to look for a whole canal solution.
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