The Preserve & Protect the Mon & Brec Canal (PPMB) group has been busy throughout the summer, writing to Welsh Ministers to highlight the urgent need for clarity on the future of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.
At the heart of the concern is the water abstraction restrictions imposed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW). While the group fully recognises the need to protect the River Usk Special Area of Conservation, the current licensing arrangements are creating major uncertainty for businesses who depend on the canal for their livelihoods.
The canal is home to:
Six hire boat companies
Two trip-boat operators
Multiple canal-side pubs and cafés
A wide network of supply chain businesses and local employees
Together these businesses attract visitors who not only enjoy the canal but also spend across the wider region, supporting accommodation, dining, shopping, and other attractions. The estimated contribution of the canal to the Welsh economy is around £30 million per year.
Currently, the Canal & River Trust is spending up to £40,000 per week to purchase supplementary water, safeguarding canal-dependent businesses for 2025. However, the Trust has confirmed that it cannot and will not continue this for the 2026 season.
That leaves businesses facing an impossible planning challenge. Investment decisions, staffing levels, marketing commitments, and bookings for 2026 need to be made now, yet there is no certainty about water availability during the crucial summer trading period. This uncertainty is already deterring investment and threatening jobs across the 35-mile canal corridor from Brecon to Cwmbran.
The current situation at Five Locks in Cwmbran and the Fourteen Locks Canal Centre in Rogerstone shows the stark reality of a water-starved canal. Non-navigable sections are dry, lifeless, and unattractive to visitors. If similar restrictions hit the navigable sections of the Mon & Brec Canal, the consequences would be devastating for tourism, nature, and the communities who rely on the canal.
The PPMB group has written to Finance Minister Rebecca Evans, urging Welsh Government to take immediate steps, including:
Providing economic impact input into the Task & Finish Group currently examining solutions
Conducting urgent economic impact assessments before any 2026 restrictions are implemented
Advocating for interim measures that balance environmental protection with business sustainability
Facilitating urgent dialogue between NRW, the Canal & River Trust, businesses, and economic development agencies
Considering emergency support mechanisms while long-term solutions are developed
Without action, there is a real risk that canal-dependent businesses could fail, threatening the canal itself and its £30 million annual contribution to the Welsh economy.
The Preserve & Protect group, which includes representatives from the Inland Waterways Association, canal businesses, and Brecon Beacons Tourism, is clear: safeguarding both the environment and the economy must go hand in hand.
