Welsh Government Announces Major Investment of up to £5m to Protect Water Supplies for the Mon & Brec Canal
The future of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal received a significant boost yesterday as the Welsh Government confirmed it's intention to prioritise up to £5 million in capital funding to safeguard it's water supply.
The announcement, made on 17 July 2025 by Cabinet Secretary Huw Irranca-Davies, marks a turning point in a long-running campaign to protect this much-loved historic waterway, which plays a vital role in tourism, nature, and local livelihoods across the region.
“I intend to prioritise capital funding of up to £5m within my budget to upgrade the pumping station, which is supporting the current temporary agreement,” said Irranca-Davies. “This is a significant indication of Welsh Government commitment to the future of the canal.”
The funding will support essential upgrades to the pumping infrastructure, which is currently providing a short-term solution to maintain water flow in the canal. This follows a temporary agreement reached earlier this year between Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and the Canal & River Trust, which runs until April 2026.
In parallel, a new Welsh Government-led Task and Finish Group will be established to bring together stakeholders including local authorities, the Canal & River Trust, Natural Resources Wales, and Dŵr Cymru to identify long-term solutions for resilience, funding, and sustainable water supply.
This follows sustained pressure from the local community and business sector, led by the grassroots campaign group Preserve and Protect the Mon and Brec Canal. The group’s petition, public outreach, and recent Senedd rally helped push the issue to the top of the agenda.
Julie Bell, Director of Brecon Beacons Tourism and a member of the pressure group, welcomed the announcement:
“We’re thrilled to see this commitment from Welsh Government – it’s a huge step forward. It reflects the incredible effort made by everyone involved in Preserve and Protect the Mon and Brec Canal, from campaigners to businesses and local communities. We look forward to supporting the next phase and helping secure a long-term future for the canal.”
The Mon & Brec Canal, a vital cultural and environmental asset, has historically relied on abstractions from the River Usk to maintain its water levels. For over two centuries, these abstractions were carried out under an exemption, but regulatory changes in 2018 meant that licensing conditions now apply to protect the River Usk, which is a designated Special Area of Conservation.
These new conditions significantly limit how much water can be taken from the river during low flows – a constraint that has grown more problematic with increasingly unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change.
“The public strength of feeling and support for the canal is evident,” said Irranca-Davies. “I share the common goal of supporting the canal while addressing the urgent environmental challenges that threaten the ecological status of the River Usk.”
“This arrangement has offered a lifeline for the canal… I hope this will provide the basis for the arrangement to be put on a longer-term footing.”
The Task and Finish Group will begin its work immediately, with a focus on identifying how to secure a sustainable future for the canal while protecting the River Usk’s ecological integrity. The group is expected to consider funding models, governance arrangements, and infrastructure improvements.
“We all want the canal to prosper,” said Irranca-Davies. “A solution must be found that is workable and sustainable for the people of Wales – both now and for future generations.”
A full copy of the Cabinet Secretary’s statement is available here:
🔗 Read the full statement here
Brecon Beacons Tourism will continue to engage with the process and update members on opportunities to contribute to this collaborative effort.
