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Montgomery Canal Forum – The Opportunities of Restoration

The recent Montgomery Canal Forum had as its theme “The Opportunities of Restoration”.

The well-attended meeting on 12 July at the Guildhall, Shrewsbury was organised by Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust.

The meeting was opened by the Trust Chairman Michael Limbrey who referred to the recent opening of the Droitwich Canal, where the Chairmen of Worcestershire County and Wychavon District Councils, the local MP Peter Luff and Caroline Spelman MP, DEFRA Secretary of State, had all spoken of the benefits the restoration of that canal would bring to Droitwich and the wider area.

The main presentation of the afternoon was by Simon Papprill, Senior Regeneration Officer of Oldham Council. He spoke about the restoration of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and Rochdale Canals running through built-up areas and the Pennine countryside. Restoration was a partnership between British Waterways, the local authorities, the Canal Societies, enthusiast organisations and other public agencies. There were real engineering challenges in the restoration – even removing a Co-op superstore which was built over the line of the canal.

The Rochdale Canal was also a Site of Special Scientific Interest, home to floating water plantain, also found on the Montgomery Canal. Identified as an important regeneration, recreational, and green infrastructure corridor of the Greater Manchester and South Pennine area, the restored canals are now used for kayaking, boating, angling, nature conservation, walking, and cycling. Consultants reported that the two restored canals had brought several hundred jobs to the area, with spending of over £84million in the years 2004-2010.

In conclusion Simon Papprill encouraged the local authorities and organisations present to work together to maximise the potential for restoration of the Montgomery Canal. “You, your communities and the waterway deserve it!” he said.

The other presentation was by Alex Ball, British Waterways’ Montgomery Canal Development Manager, whose task is to identify the next stages of restoration and sources of funding for it. She started by noting that the canal has 128 listed structures and special ecological designations for its natural environment. A number of projects had been identified, particularly the need to extend the nature reserves to ensure the protection of canal habitats, and there had been discussions with funders so that work could get under way to submit bids in 2012.

The Forum concluded with an open discussion of issues affecting the canal, including of course National Grid’s pylon consultation, where a number of the proposed routes could affect the setting of the canal.

Trust Chairman Michael Limbrey said, “The story of the Droitwich, Huddersfield and Rochdale Canals is all about the benefits of reopening derelict waterways. The cross-Pennine canals were reopened ten years ago, after fifty years’ dereliction: there were real challenges in the restoration including the need to overcome road blockages and to safeguard valuable ecology. Though this is a different area, we face the same issues on the Montgomery Canal.

“The experience in Oldham shows that we can we can restore the Montgomery Canal. Restoration has already opened up some blocked road crossings, half the canal is now open for boats, and the towpath is now open all the way along the canal. Businesses are benefiting too. In times of economic constraint, we have to show the value of the restored canal, which can be significant, with opportunities for businesses and employment, which in turn enhance the attraction of the area to visitors.

“Restoration will protect the special structures of the canal – some of them unique to this area – and extend and enhance its natural habitats. The restored Montgomery Canal will bring real benefits to the area for both visitors and residents, now and far into the future.”

MONTGOMERY WATERWAY RESTORATION TRUST
YMDDIRIEDOLAETH ADFER CAMLAS MALDWYN
In partnership to promote the restoration and development of the Montgomery Canal in England and Wales

Editor's Note: Floating Water-plantain is a species of aquatic plant known scientifically as the Luronium natans

The Montgomery Canal runs from Frankton Junction near Ellesmere, through Welshpool to Newtown. It was closed after a burst bank in 1936. Restoration started in 1969 and since then hundreds of volunteers of Shropshire Union Canal Society and the Inland Waterways Association’s Waterway Recovery Group have spent thousands of days working to restore locks, bridges and weirs on the canal, and will return this August.

In 2011 volunteers are working on the length from Redwith Bridge on the B4396 to Crickheath Wharf.

The Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust is a registered charity, formed in 1980 to promote the restoration of the canal. Members include Shropshire Council, Powys County Council, Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trusts, the Inland Waterways Association, Waterway Recovery Group and Shropshire Union Canal Society. The Friends of the Montgomery Canal is the membership section of the Trust.

The Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust is part of the Montgomery Canal Partnership which includes British Waterways (who own the canal), Shropshire Council, Powys County Council, Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trusts, Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England, English Heritage, Cadw, the Inland Waterways Association and Shropshire Union Canal Society.

Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust: Vice-Presidents: Philip Bradbourn OBE MEP, Lord Carlile of Berriew QC, Glyn Davies MP, Liz Lynne MEP, Lembit Öpik, Owen Paterson MP, David Wain OBE, Timothy West, Prunella Scales.

Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales No. 1508017.

Registered as a Charity No. 510448. Registered Office: 4 Claremont Bank, Shrewsbury SY1 1RS