Your recent report on problems with the proposed works on the Montgomery Canal gave the impression that the £14m UK Levelling Up Fund project is to restore the canal from the border at Llanymynech all the way through to Newtown.
This project in fact covers restoration of less than five miles down to Arddleen, with most of the money for works to enable motor barges to use it.
The next phase would extend this towards Welshpool and entail two major crossings of the A483, costing at least £20m - probably much more, with prolonged major roadworks and traffic disruption.
This would require more UK taxpayer money, presumably through the Mid Wales Growth Deal.
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If the motor boat navigation plan were dropped, the canal could be repaired and the towpath improved along its entire length at a fraction of the cost, with no need for expensive road bridges and no need for the off line nature reserves (only needed for wildlife to survive alongside motor boats.)
Attracting a few motor boats is supposed to be beneficial to the local economy, in terms of its tourist potential. But, it is known that canal towpath users generate much more economic gain than boats, even on busy canals. Access to the towpath is far more important than a few transitory barges.
There has never been any significant use by motor boats on this canal, as it was closed nearly a century ago. The absence of pollution and disturbance from propellers has created a valuable wildlife habitat, recognised as a Special Area of Conservation.
Even just a few motor boats would damage and degrade this. There is no reason why the whole canal cannot be restored, both for residents and for visitors, for its value as a place to walk, run or cycle along the towpath, and for nature to thrive alongside people. It could also be used by kayaks and perhaps by a horse drawn barge.
The savings could be used in far better ways to promote economic growth in Powys.
How about investing in local power networks so businesses can benefit directly from the wind farms? Better public transport, for visitors and residents? Speeding up home insulation? Why not just ask people what they think?
I doubt if building bridges on busy roads to enable the transit of a few barges would rank as a priority.
Patrick Adams
Trefeglwys
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