Together, we achieve Beyond the more Towpath A Ten-Year Strategy for Glandwˆr Cymru

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 1 Cover image: Pontcysyllte & Llangollen World Heritage Site

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Together, we achieve more Copyright © Glandwˆr Cymru – Canal & River Trust in Wales. 1 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath Charity number 1146792. May 2014 Contents

Welcome 3 Who are we? 4 Canal & River Trust – Our Strategic Priorities 5 Waterways in Wales 7 Waterways in Wales – Part of the Wider Network 9 Waterways in Wales – Our 11 Working Together to Deliver More – Our Ten Year Strategy 13 Public Policy Synergy 14 Glandwˆr Cymru – Our Strategic Priorities 15 Delivering More For Wales – Priorities into Action 19 Our Idea – Monmouthshire & Canal, Brecon to Newport 21 Our Idea – Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site 23 Our Idea – Montgomery Conservation & Management Strategy 25 Working with the People of Wales 27 All Wales Partnership 29

“Living waterways transform places and enrich lives” Canal & River Trust, 2014

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 2 Welcome

The creation of the Canal & River Trust in 2012, which is now the UK’s thirteenth largest charity and largest social enterprise, has given Wales an opportunity to forge a closer relationship with its waterways. The establishment of Glandwˆr Cymru - The Canal & River Trust in Wales, and its All Wales Partnership with members drawn from the public, private and third sectors, has given us the ability to explore how these links may be developed. The members and I, as Chair of Glandwˆr Cymru, have been engaging widely with Welsh civic society during the process of putting together this Strategy for Wales’s waterways.

Although these waterways no longer carry goods, we believe they can still play an essential part in addressing the challenges and opportunities of post-industrial Wales.

Across the UK, Europe and beyond, inland waterways are experiencing a true renaissance. In Wales, the award-winning 200th anniversary celebrations of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal were a catalyst for communities and local authorities along the entire length of the canal to come together, and in the process win a UK Waterways Renaissance Award.

The true potential of our waterways and their long-term survival will only be secured if communities across Wales believe they are relevant to their current and future lives. This ten-year strategy provides examples of how we can reach “Beyond the Towpath” to improve the social, environmental and economic well-being of these communities. We are investing in the future, and more and more people are becoming part of the Trust’s activities.

Glandwˆr Cymru will seek to fully engage and work with the Government and People of Wales to deliver our shared vision of a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future. We are investing in Wales’s waterways, and more and more Welsh people are actively becoming part of the Trust by volunteering in communities across the Country.

In ten years’ time, with your help we believe the waterways of Wales will be vibrant and sustainable places, playing a key role in delivering well-being for communities across Wales.

Dr Mark Lang Chair, Glandwˆr Cymru

3 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath Who are we?

Glandwˆr Cymru is the Canal & River Trust in Wales. We own and care for The Llangollen, Montgomery, Monmouthshire & Brecon and Canals. This includes total ownership of one of Wales’s three World Heritage Sites, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site, and part of the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World heritage Site.

This is the first time for sixty years that these canals have been outside UK Government control and this opens up major opportunities for Wales, not only to ensure that the potential of our own waterways is fully realised, but also that of all Wales’s waterways and waterscape.

Glandwˆr Cymru is supported by our All Wales Partnership which comprises of volunteers from public, private and third sector organisations with a range of professional, community, waterway interests and skills. Amongst those skills are strategic planning, community engagement, voluntary sector work, tourism, business, health and education.

The role of the partnership is to champion the current value and future potential of our waterways to the people and Government of Wales. The Partnership works alongside Andrew Stumpf, Head of Wales and his team. Together, we combine understanding, expertise and resources, with a passion to see waterways transform places and enrich lives here in Wales just as they have elsewhere.

We work closely with our colleagues in the North Wales and Borders, and Severn and Museums and Attractions Partnerships as well as the Canal Societies and Trusts that did, and do, so much to keep our waterways alive. We are continuously looking for new and complementary relationships and our partnerships in the third, public and private sectors continues to grow.

Find out more about our Partnership Members at the end of this document and see examples of our work at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/noticeboards/ all-wales-waterways/whos-who

This plan is the result of our recent consultation with stakeholders in Wales, and the proposals contained within it are a reflection of these conversations.

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 4 Canal & River Trust Our Strategic Priorities

Almost 50% of the population of The true potential of our canals and England and Wales lives within rivers and their long-term survival will five miles of our network of canals, only be secured if the new Trust fully rivers and towpaths. engages and works with visitors, users, neighbours, business partners and local The network is cherished by authorities, including parish, town and millions of visitors, neighbours community councils. and communities yet it has been difficult in the past for many people Our priority is to widen the enjoyment of to get involved in shaping their our waterways today whilst protecting future. We intend to change that. them for future generations. The Trustees have set out six strategic goals aimed at unlocking this potential.

People To enrich people’s lives. Influence To be a widely respected partner and trusted guardian with Waterways To protect and improve the growing influence and responsibility. accessibility, usability and resilience of our assets and their heritage, for people Places To provide special places that to use and enjoy, now and in the future. people value, sustainable environments and routes. Resources To secure sufficient resources, and manage them efficiently, Prosperity To yield economic benefits for the long-term sustainability of the for local communities and the nation. waterways within the Trust’s care.

5 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath …so how do we do that in Wales?

Glandwˆr Cymru’s role is to deliver We have an ambition for Wales these six strategic priorities in Wales for that befits not only the internationally the benefit of Welsh communities, the significant built, social and natural economy of Wales and the waterways heritage of our canals but also the themselves. We want to inspire the lead Wales is taking in creating a people of Wales to connect with our sustainable future. canals and rivers by encouraging those with an interest in our work to become a part of it, reaching out to those who have yet to discover this national treasure and ensure ‘our canals’ long- term security by making them more fully part of Wales’s national life.

“Beyond the Towpath. Working together to create world-class waterways for Wales”

The dynamic stewardship of world-class waterways delivering tangible benefits for Wales and the well-being of its people.

All Wales Waterway Partnership

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 6 Waterways in Wales

There is a close connection between Wales’s canals and its post-industrial towns. As has been witnessed elsewhere in the UK, however, the waterways owned and managed by Glandwˆr Cymru and those owned and managed by others have the potential to make a significant contribution to the well-being of Wales, in particular those places which have been economically and socially hardest hit by deindustrialisation, with which they share a common history.

There is already significant use made of Wales’s canals but it is not always appreciated that 96% of that use is on the towpaths, which are freely accessible to all. Towpaths are flat and level, which makes them some of the most easily accessible open spaces in both urban and rural areas, ideally suited to encourage active travel and exploration, and help people cope with stress. Their unique mix of built and natural heritage, some of which is of international importance, also has significant tourist appeal.

Waterways map Wrexham Llangollen Brecon Monmouthshire & Canal Brecon Canal Llangollen Wrexham Crickhowell Waterways Ellesmere Llangollen CRT Navigable Brecon Monmouthshire & CRT Non-navigable Canal Brecon Canal Llangollen Non-CRT Oswestry Ebbw Vale Crickhowell Blaenavon Waterways Ellesmere Brecon Beacons National Park Swansea Canal Merthyr Tydfil CRT Navigable Valleys Regional Park Pontypool CRT Non-navigable AONB Non-CRT Oswestry World Heritage Site Ebbw Vale Neath Canal World Heritage Site Buffer Zone Blaenavon Neath Cwmbran Brecon Beacons National Park Swansea Comm First Region Merthyr Tydfil Valleys Regional Park Swansea Canal Tennant Canal Offa’s Dyke Pontypool Maesteg AONB Shrewsbury World Heritage Site Glyndwr’s Way Neath Canal Caerphilly Newport NCN Cwmbran World Heritage Site Buffer Zone Swansea Neath Welshpool Comm First Region Tennant Canal Offa’s Dyke Shrewsbury Maesteg Glyndwr’s Way Caerphilly Newport Montgomery NCN Welshpool Canal Cardiff

Montgomery Canal NewtownCardiff

Newtown

Caersws Lake Vyrnwy Oswestry Wrexham Denbigh 8 mins 40 mins 10 mins 22 mins 50 mins

Llanidloes Shrewsbury Kinnerley Chester Liverpool 23 mins 32 mins 26 mins 37 mins 53 mins

7 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath Times to the canal

Builth Wells Talgarth Bwlch Crickhowell Ebbw Vale Tredegar 30 mins 15 mins 10 mins 4 mins 15 mins 19 mins

Wrexham

Llangollen Brecon Monmouthshire & Canal Brecon Canal Llangollen Crickhowell Waterways Ellesmere CRT Navigable CRT Non-navigable Non-CRT Oswestry Ebbw Vale Blaenavon Brecon Beacons National Park Swansea Canal Merthyr Tydfil Valleys Regional Park Pontypool AONB World Heritage Site Neath Canal Cwmbran World Heritage Site Buffer Zone Swansea Neath Comm First Region Tennant Canal Offa’s Dyke Shrewsbury Maesteg Glyndwr’s Way Caerphilly Newport NCN Welshpool

Montgomery Canal Cardiff

Newtown

Abertillery Bargoed Usk Pontypridd Abergavenny 23 mins 19 mins 14 mins 30 mins 6 mins

Caerphilly Monmouth 20 mins 28 mins

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 8 Waterways in Wales Part of the wider network

Wales’s waterways attract substantial numbers of visitors, and 13% of holiday boaters and others who travel to see the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site at Llangollen are international visitors. The European-wide network of canals is unique to Europe, but nevertheless their multi-functionality has yet to be recognised at European policy level. An emergent consortium of waterway authorities and cities, of which Glandwˆr Cymru is a founder member, is working to ensure the wider benefits of this network are recognised by policy makers.

Our ideas and proposals within this Prospectus are built on a wealth of experience gained from delivery and post-delivery evaluation of the impact of the restoration of 200 miles of waterways and the considerable improvement and development of 2,000 of waterways over the last 15 years. Our ideas, informed by some excellent examples of work undertaken in Wales and elsewhere in the UK, are now being developed with a strategic research partnership with Cardiff University, to ensure that the maximum potential social and environmental benefits are derived.

9 Glandwˆr Cymru BeyondBremerhaven, the Towpath Northern Germany – Interreg 4B North Sea Region project Waterways for Growth Our Waterways

Trust waterways: Montgomery Canal Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal Swansea Canal Other Trust waterways non-Trust waterways:

Standedg Navigable: Salford r Tunnel Liverpool Quays River Avon Navigation e River Wye Navigation Mancheste Runcorn Non-navigable: h Neath & Tennant Canal Marple Anderton Bugswort Crumlin Arm National Waterways Museum Boat Lift Basin Ellesmere Port Macclesfield Chester

Coastal Gateway h Congleton

Kidsgrove Northwic Welsh/English border Middlewich Stoke on

Llangollen on Burton Trent Trent

Llangolle Nantwich

Market n Shrewsbury Drayton Stafford Pontcysyllte Tamworth PontcysyllteAqueduct Aqueduct Ellesmere Welshpool Wolverhampton Stourbridge WelshpoolNewtown Kidderminster Birmingham Newtown Stourport on Severn h Stratford upon Bromsgrove

Droitwic Sp a Avon

Worcester Brecon Hereford

Brecon Gloucester Waterways Museum Cricklade

Cwmbran Stroud Sharpness Neath Cwmbran Swindon Neath

Swansea Swansea Newport Newport m y f Bath Bristol Avon Cardif Pewsey Bradford Melksha Newbur f upon Bridgwater Cardif Taunton

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 10 Montgomery Canal: While not yet fully open to navigation, the 56km Montgomery Canal is nevertheless well used by walkers, cyclists and paddlers, not least during the annual Triathlon. The canal is staggeringly beautiful with very high-quality and rare built and natural heritage in both England and Wales. Its rare aquatic plants are recognised by its designation as a Special Area of Conservation in Wales; it has the largest and the most extensive population of floating water- plantain in Britain and 90% of the UK population of Grasswrack pond weed. Restoration of the canal, which volunteers have been progressing indefatigably for over 40 years, has, since 2005, been governed by a ground-breaking Conservation Management Strategy signed by all the partners. In parallel, working in partnership has enabled access to be improved; the towpath between Newtown and Welshpool has already been completed and we have been working towards a national flat water centre at Burgeddin with Canoe Wales.

Swansea Canal Built to supply the industry in the Tawe Valley, and part of a network of canals with the Neath and Tennant Canals, its use is now leisure and pleasure, particularly where it is navigable between and and around Coed Gwilym Park, Clydach. Industry continues to be served in one way: by water fed along its length. The Swansea Canal Society is working hard to protect, maintain and restore the canal, initially to once more link the park to Clydach town and to bring life to its waters through canoe hire and other activities.

11 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath Llangollen Canal: The whole of the canal in Wales is within the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site, which stretches into Shropshire. This is the only canal World Heritage Site in the UK and the only World Heritage Site wholly owned by the Trust. As such it has a unique place in our plans. The catchment for the site is international, attracting visitors from all over the world - 8,500 a week to Trevor alone at the height of the summer. It is also the busiest for boats in the UK and despite its length is host to 60,000 bed nights a year. The towpath, which includes part of the Offa’s Dyke path, across the 11 miles of the WHS is popular with walkers and cyclists enticed by the picturesque landscape that has been appreciated for 200 years, earning it Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status. Our aim is for the WHS to become the visitor gateway to North East Wales and for the waterways of Britain.

Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal: Voted as the most visited attraction in the Brecon Beacons National Park in 2013, the Canal comprises a 35-mile navigable section, from Brecon to Pontypool, and a further 17 miles under restoration from Pontypool to Newport and to Cwmcarn (The Crumlin Arm). Our aim is to once more connect the Brecon Beacons National Park, Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site, of which the canal is a part, with the coast at Newport (Crindau) passing through the heart of and helping to transform the Communities First clusters. With the canal perched high above the River Usk, the towpath, which is part of the Taff Trail, is a wonderful way to explore the area at an easy pace.

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 12 Working together to deliver more Our Ten-Year Strategy

Working with the Government of Wales

Glandwˆr Cymru wants to establish a closer relationship with the Welsh Government, the National Assembly for Wales, and with wider Welsh governance. Our strategy for the next ten years demonstrates the key areas where we believe we can help improve the well-being of Wales. Our vision is one that lends itself not only to current Government Programmes, but also to the longer-term ambitions expressed in Wales. At the heart of our vision is our commitment to assisting the social, economic and environmental well-being of Wales. In particular we can offer the Government of Wales three distinct areas of support:

Assets – conservation and enhancement of the built, natural and social heritage. Activity – increasing and broadening the use made of those assets and using them as a catalyst. Advice – using our experience to assist the development of non-Trust waterways and waterspace.

The prevailing image of waterways has over recent years been one of boats and boating and whilst these do and will continue to play a key part in making our waterways such vibrant and special places, increased boating is not the only outcome we want to achieve. 96% of the use of our waterways is on the towpath rather than on the water, and it is activity on the land and the waterways’ impact on its surroundings which represent the greatest opportunities to grow our contribution to well-being. This prospectus is designed to reposition waterways into this wider policy context.

13 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath Public Policy Synergy

Wales’s waterways are already delivering outcomes across a range of public policy areas. We know from our experience elsewhere that they are not only capable of much more but of simultaneously delivering outcomes across a range of policy areas. Time and again they have been shown to be the catalysts for collaboration, encouraging partners to work together towards a common purpose whether those partners operate at a community, regional or national level, or indeed trans-national level.

licy Ob Supporting the economy and Po busines je Improving W c lic employment n tiv b Improving our infrastructur e

u s s t P Creating a sustainable, low carbon : econom

elsh skills for

y Help everyone reach their potential, reduce inequality and improve economic and social well-being heritage and spor fectively

e people

Encouraging greater participatio s Widening access to our culture, ficiently and ef Contributing to Key Stage 2 and ef STEM subjects Growth & Sustainable Jobs Using renewable energy sources Creating sustainable places for

Protecting healthy eco-system Education & Heritage

Welsh Culture Livingand within acting environmental on climate change limits Preventing poor health EnvironmentSustainability & communities Improving public services for rural

Ensuring rural communities have Health Waterways Rural access to faster broadband in Wales Communities speeds and new digital services s Reducing health inequalitie A thriving rural econom Tackling Poverty educational outcomes of children, young y people and familiesImproving living the in health pov and Welsh Homes

Equalit Improving the skills of young Tackling worklessness and raising All Safer y erty Broadening participation by people people and familie Increasing the supply and choice Communities for from different socio-economic and

ethnic backgrounds, age groups

Advance equality of opportunity & household income

s

tackle discriminatio Increasing quality C and abilities o s

fending e n Reducing the level of crime and l tr fear of crime a i n Reduction and prevention of bu young of f W tin g o g to Well-Bein

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 14 Our Strategic Priorities

Inbound & Domestic S ies us it ta un in m Transfer a fer b

s Digital Britain Digital m Leisure Boating l T e o ourism Industry Green Economy C C Waterborne Freigh Visitors SMEs k o s m Training & Skills u Water Supply & Natural Health Service o Wildlife Corridor m Marine Industr Quality of Place Of r Green Infrastructure s t e Telecommunication Heritage u Mitigating Flood Ris n p y Safe Haven s Destinationss Touring i t

o World Class Places i Growth - e r Hydro Power Schemes Sustainability Local & Regional Identity Working s P - Waterways Land Drainage Transport Sustainable Together for Wales Image & Branding Ecology & Biodiversity Welfare to Works Civic Pride t Urban Cooling Well-being Public Realm Heating & Cooling BuildingAdjacen Renewable Energy Source Perception Focus for Regeneration

Communities Businesses Located Visitor Economy Setting for Development e - Beyond the Towpath Youth Engagemen Happiness Afloat Ageing Population Recreational Us Access to Open Space Living Social Inclusio Amenity Mental Health & Community Pay Back r Volunteering t g Local

Sport Blue Gyms Education

Well-bein n Tackling Deprivation

Well-being

Anti-Social Behaviou He s alt Physical Health & itie hier Commun

15 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath Our Strategic Priorities

In order to deliver our mission to contribute fully to the well-being of Wales, we shall pursue three overarching strategic objectives.

Communities – Beyond the Towpath

To expand the impact of Welsh waterways beyond the towpath so that they deliver more for Wales and its people, now and in the future by:

• Connecting people, places, facilities, services and opportunities (in health, education, skills, sport and recreation, employability, etc.).

• Improving the economic, health, social performance and well-being of waterway corridors as a whole and the communities they serve.

• Ensuring waterways form part of the strategic and local sustainable transport, tourism and green infrastructure.

• Stimulating and facilitating development and regeneration of waterway corridors and their neighbourhoods for the mutual benefit of local communities, businesses and the Trust.

• Raising aspirations of riparian communities through canal-centred skills development, education, volunteering and canal adoptions.

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 16 Our Strategic Priorities

Growth – Working Together

To work together to enable waterways to deliver more for Wales and its people, now and in the future:

• Unlocking the contribution and value that Welsh waterways could make to “joined-up Government delivery”, the strategic national outcomes, and Welsh Civic Society.

• Supporting the use of canal restorations as catalysts for collaboration, changed perceptions and increased community confidence.

• Becoming a valued strategic partner through a strong local presence and long- term commitment to supporting waterside communities and neighbourhoods in Wales.

• Becoming recognised as a delivery partner of choice providing value for money and generating measurable economic, social and environmental benefits for Welsh people.

• Becoming a highly respected and trusted guardian of sustainable and healthy waterways, supporting the Welsh cultural identity, language and heritage.

17 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath Our Strategic Priorities

Sustainability – Waterways for Wales

To ensure Waterways for Wales become world class, accessible and cherished places, that deliver more for Wales and its people, now and in the future:

• Managing water resources sustainably for the benefit of current and future generations.

• Thriving, attractive and accessible environments which enhance health and well- being, deliver economic growth and regeneration, attract investment, and support innovation.

• Fully recognised and valued by policy and decision-makers as a cross-cutting policy theme which delivers significant improvements to the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being and resilience of Wales and its people.

• Cherished and enjoyed by people living in, working in and visiting Wales and to be cared for by local people and valued as a vital part of the nation’s infrastructure, cultural identity and heritage.

• Helping to conserve and enhance Wales’s natural environment.

Visit W ales our , Can inland oe W wate ales rway and N s to b atur ecom al Re e th sour e pre ces W mier ale flat w s sha ater re ou dest r am inati bitio on fo n fo r fam r ily pa ddle rs in Wa les.

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 18 Delivering More for Wales Priorities into Action

Waterways can be transformative: they can raise community aspirations, confidence and health; they attract inward investment and create jobs; they can increase economic resilience through tourism; and they can conserve and increase appreciation of the cultural, built and natural heritage. Our ideas in the following case studies show how waterways could deliver more for Wales, contributing to current national policy goals to improve the well-being in Wales.

As a charity, we cannot fulfill our ambitions alone, and only by working in partnership with the People and Government of Wales can we attract the knowledge, and investment of time and money, that we need to deliver our vision and ensure the waterways play a central part in Welsh life.

Our ideas will follow the three themes: communities, growth and sustainability.

Communities Growth Sustainability Beyond the Towpath Working Together Waterways for Wales

On the following pages there are three cross-cutting ideas

• The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in a City Region Context • Pontycysyllte Aqueduct and Canal as a Gateway to North East Wales • The Montgomery Canal as an example of sustainable development

Please refer to our website www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/enterprise/enterprise-in-wales for further case studies

19 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath Brecon Basin & Theatre built in 1996. One of many beautiful locations along the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, voted most visited attraction in the Brecon Beacons National Park 2013.

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 20 Our Idea Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal – Brecon to Newport

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal comprises a 35-mile navigable section, from Brecon to Pontypool, and a further 17 miles under restoration from Pontypool to Newport and to Cwmcarn (The Crumlin Arm). The canal connects the coast, the Brecon Beacons National Park and Blaenavon World Heritage Site passing through Communities First clusters.

We believe the canal has the capacity to act as a catalyst for collaboration and the regeneration of local economies and communities with the Cardiff City Region and beyond.

The canal’s bicentenary celebrations in 2012, involving 88 partners, delivered 65 events over the year engaging communities over the whole length of the canal. It showed how the six local authorities could work together to a common purpose. The South Torfaen Settlement Area Vibrant & Viable Places bid has shown how that level of collaboration, and the canal, can be used to stimulate major economic growth and investment whilst linking deprived communities to areas of opportunity. Proposal

Restoring the un-navigable section, relining the at-risk navigable sections and securing a sustainable water supply for the whole Canal over ten years will: provide a live studio for the development of much needed capacity, skills and education outside the classroom; change perceptions of the area; add stimulus to inward investment and the businesses and communities along its length; enhance and connect habitats; through volunteering and community adoption schemes, get people working together and create the sense of ownership the Canal needs for its long-term health. Canal quarters would be created at Crindau and Cwmbran to complement the existing one at Brecon. Goytre would be developed to create a hub for South Wales and the Valleys.

A partnership exists between all local authorities, public bodies and third sector organisations in the Canal corridor. Major third-party funders, including Europe and the Heritage Lottery Fund have already supported Canal Schemes including the £1.5m Ty Coch locks restoration. Piecemeal work by volunteers and contractors is already underway, but a programme of work is now needed to provide business confidence and training pathways.

21 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath Working in partnership with BBNPA under the Collabor8 European project Outputs and Outcomes: Growth & Inward investment in housing and jobs; health improvements Sustainable Jobs as people access the local towpaths and cycle and walk; employment, training and education opportunities during the works; new businesses following the works; broadband in the Education towpaths; transfer of water from the Usk to Newport.

Health Cost

To ensure the integrity of the canal from Pontypool to Brecon Homes would cost £20m, of which Glandwˆr Cymru could fund 50% over ten years. The Canal from Pontypool to Newport, Safer Communities including basins at both Crindau and Cwnbran and the for All completion of the restoration of 14 locks, would cost £45m. To add the Crumlin Arm would cost a further £4m. All assuming dependable water supply and subject to detailed design. Equality

Signposting the Tackling Poverty strategic fit with Rural Welsh Public Policy Communities Growth & Sustainable Jobs, Health, Homes, Tackling Welsh Culture & Heritage Poverty, Welsh Culture & Heritage, Lifelong Learning, Safer Communities for all. Lifelong Learning

Communities Growth Sustainability Beyond the Towpath Working Together Waterways for Wales

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 22 Our Idea Pontycysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site

It is the only canal-specific World Heritage site in the UK, identified for its outstanding canal engineering. Glandwˆr Cymru is committed to the high standards of maintenance required by this amazing site, and to deriving the maximum benefit for the Trust and for Wales.

The Llangollen Canal is the busiest canal for boats in the UK, with 60,000 bed nights spent on boats in Wales and up to 8,500 visitors a week in Trevor. However, visitors spend a third as much as the average visitor to waterways in England and Wales and only half as long on site as those visiting similar local destinations. While much has been achieved, despite the Cefn Townscapes Heritage Initiative and RDP funding across the site, local communities have yet to feel the benefit of inscription and respond to the potential.

Llangollen, Trevor and Chirk have a catchment of 6.2million people within 90 minutes, and are within easy reach of Liverpool and the English North West and Midlands. The site already attracts substantial overseas visitors, who make up 13% of the total.

There is an established partnership of statutory bodies and local authorities across the World Heritage Site and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Following inscription, the communities of the World Heritage Site formed a “friends” organisation, “Aqueducks”, which volunteers, raises funds and runs events. A committed team of Chirk residents also established Caffi Wylfa and Glyn Wylfa business accommodation. Proposal

Our aim is to provide visitor facilities worthy of the World Heritage Site at the three main hubs of Chirk, Trevor and Llangollen - each to include multi-lingual interpretation, a retail offer and catering to encourage visitor movement and spend along the whole corridor and beyond. The main visitor centre would be at Trevor. The provision of site-wide highway and pedestrian signing, car parking and interpretation together with visitor distribution along the canal, the towpath, road network and public transport, will enable the eleven-mile site to withstand major increases in visitor numbers and deliver significant economic benefits, in a sustainable way.

The visitor economy would support rather than inconvenience local communities and help to replace the vibrancy lost with the manufacturing jobs. Development of quality products would also increase the profitability of existing businesses and provide a market for local goods, produce and services.

23 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath Outputs and Outcomes: By promoting the site we will seek to increase visitor Growth & numbers/dwell times/local spend; walking; cycling and Sustainable Jobs paddling trails; new tourism businesses and products; skills and qualifications; interpretation; learning outcomes and education attainment levels; and continue to meet UNESCO Education WHS demands. Cost Health In partnership with others we have invested over £1 million Homes improving the towpaths throughout the site and continue to improve accessibility, for example at Postle’s Bridge in 2014. The bespoke gateway at Trevor incorporating a new basin for Safer Communities visiting and hire boats, visitor centre, car parking and other for All facilities and restoration of the first section of the Plas Kynaston Canal has a £20m funding gap. Therefore over the Equality term of this plan we will work with existing and seek new partners to improve the visitor experience within land we control to include a better food and drink offer, interpretation, Tackling Poverty “things to do” and access across the basin which we estimate will cost around £1 million. Rural Communities

Signposting the Welsh Culture & strategic fit with Heritage

Welsh Public Policy Lifelong Learning Growth & Sustainable Jobs; Health; Rural Communities; Environment & Sustainability; Welsh Culture & Heritage; Education; Lifelong Learning.

Communities Growth Sustainability Beyond the Towpath Working Together Waterways for Wales

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 24 Our Idea Montgomery Conservation Management Strategy

The Montgomery Canal in Wales is a Special Are of Conservation (SAC) with the largest population in the world of floating water plantain and 90% of the UK’s population Grasswrack Pondweed. Its 23 miles of water and contiguous riparian habitats also support a wide range of insects, amphibians, mammals and birds.

In 2005 the 14 public and third sector partners signed a ground breaking Conservation Management Strategy which ensures the balance between the needs of the built and natural environment and those of the economy, local and wider communites. The aim is to restore the canal to navigation as a model of sustainable development, adding resilience to the rural economy, supporting community facilities such as shops and pubs and creating opportunities for new businesses and social enterprises. All the while conserving and increasing both physical and intellectual access to the canal’s unique environment and heritage. Proposal

The strategy recognises the Canal’s wider role in and for the local communities and that its sustainability rested on its relevance for local people as a source of local jobs and a foundation for quality of life.

Already the waterway supports volunteering, innovative businesses, such as Canal Central just across the border, and innovative events such as the Triathlon – bikes, boats and boots. Burgeddin could become the national flat water centre for all forms of paddle sport. A partnership with Canoe Wales, Visit Wales, Natural Resources Wales is using the Montgomery as a basis for developing family paddling across Wales. In addition, with assistance from Welsh Government, Powys County Council and Sustrans Cymru, the towpath is becoming accessible to all.

The creation of reserves, both “in-channel” and “offline”, would add another dimension to the visitor experience, safeguard against species succession and other external threats and offer wider opportunities for volunteering and conservation. Appointment of a “countryside officer” and apprentice, and the encouragement of community volunteering, would enable us to work with adjacent landowners to reduce run-off and trampling of wetland margins by stock. We have an existing £800k Heritage Lottery Fund, Heritage Skills for the Future programme and a proposal for four year £5.75m cross border canal project. Arts residencies developed through our partnership with Arts Council of wales will complement these projects.

25 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath Outputs and Outcomes: New and conserved habitats; walking and paddling trails & Growth & new tourism products; increased visitor numbers/dwell times/ Sustainable Jobs local spend;skills and other learning outcomes; changes to education attainment levels; best practice case studies Education published; across England and Wales an additional 800,000 informal visits generating an additional £3.3 million of visitor spend in the local economy every year, supporting an Health additional 300-full time jobs through this spend and by acting as the catalyst for the development of identified sites adjacent to the canal. Homes

Cost Safer Communities for All The £27m restoration of the canal in Wales can be phased and comprises the creation of an additional 16 hectares of Equality nature reserve, of which 8 hectares would be open water, at a cost of £10m; removal of highway blockages at Ardleen and Maerdy and restoration of the channel at a cost of £16m; Tackling Poverty creation of a visitor destination at Llanymynech at a cost of £1m.

Rural Signposting the Communities Welsh Culture & strategic fit with Heritage Welsh Public Policy Growth & Sustainable Jobs; Health; Rural Communities; Lifelong Learning Environment & Sustainability; Welsh Culture & Heritage; Education; Skills and Lifelong Learning.

Communities Growth Sustainability Beyond the Towpath Working Together Waterways for Wales

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 26 Working with the People of Wales

We firmly believe that the waterways of Wales have a role to play in improving people’s lives, prosperity and health. We also believe that our strengths in Wales can help shape the Trust as a whole.

Only by working side by side with individuals, organisations and government, at all its levels, can this potential be fulfilled.

Year on year the number of people volunteering on the waterways themselves and in the offices has been increasing at a startling rate. Communities are adopting their sections of canal and supporters and Friends are dipping into their pockets routinely and in response to our appeals.

Organisations including Sustrans Cymru, Ramblers Cymru and Canoe Wales have spotted opportunities where there is mutual benefit in encouraging more people to discover our canals for the first time for active travel, healthy walking and flat water touring.

The Arts Council of Wales and our artists in residence are changing the way people think about and react to their landscape through high-quality arts activities.

Underpinning all of this activity is our partnership with Cardiff University, which will enable us to measure and quantify the impact we are having, learn from and spread best practice and, through placements and seminars, help students and staff contribute to the public policy debate.

We want to work with you to make sure the waterways of Wales contribute fully to the well-being of this country. Our Action Plan describes the things we think we can do and achieve working with others of a like mind. The quicker we start, the more we will achieve.

Get in touch... [email protected]

27 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath And finally…

We must pay tribute to the army of volunteers who campaigned to save and then to restore the waterways of Wales. Their efforts continue in the maintenance and improvement of the navigable waterways and as importantly, in striving to bring life to those that have yet to be reopened and inspiring schoolchildren to take an active interest in the future of their heritage. We are proud to support their efforts and to work alongside them to see our shared ambitions come to fruition.

Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath 28 All Wales Partnership

Dr Mark Lang, Chair Andrew Stumpf, Head of Wales Senior Researcher at Centre for Over 30 years’ waterways experience Regeneration Excellence Wales (CREW) in England, Scotland and Wales and and an Honorary University Associate enabling places to be dramatically of Cardiff University. Formerly a political transformed, perceptions to be changed advisor at the National Assembly for and communities enriched. Wales. Christina Harrhy David Collins Chief Officer, Neighbourhood Services for 15 years as Chief Executive of the Torfaen County Borough Council and a Football Association of Wales during Chartered Civil Engineer, a Fellow Member which he served on various committees of the Institution of Civil Engineers and of both the World Governing Body (FIFA) Institution of Highways and Transportation, and the European Governing Body Member of the Chartered Management (UEFA). Institute and Companion Member of the Institute of Customer Services. Donna Coyle Research and Development Officer Dr Dawn Roberts at the Wales Co-operative Centre Led the successful campaign to identifying and developing new gain World Heritage Site status for business opportunities and encouraging Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal while partnerships and collaboration for with Wrexham County Borough Council the growing network of Welsh social and has over 20 years’ experience in enterprises. tourism and economic development. Dawn is now a Company Director. Andrew Dakin A Chartered Surveyor, a Chartered Town David Swallow Planner and a Deputy Chief Executive A Chartered Surveyor with over 30 years’ of Centre for Regeneration Excellence experience leading and project managing Wales (CREW). Also holds a teaching a wide range of physical regeneration position at the Cardiff University School of projects and commercial transactions Planning and Geography where he is an in both the public and private sectors. Honorary Senior Research Fellow. Board Specialises in advising on partnership Member of the Cynon Taff Community projects across a number of sectors and Housing Association and member of disciplines. the Executive Committee of the - based Urban Design Group. Russell Todd Works for the Wales Council for Voluntary Dr Ruth Hall Action, co-ordinating the Communities Non-executive Director of Natural First Support Service which helps Resources Wales and recently appointed Communities First clusters tackle poverty as a governor of the new Public Policy in the most deprived areas of Wales. Institute for Wales, hosted by Cardiff He also works freelance in community University. Ruth has been a member development. of Public Health Advisory Board of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) since 2005 and holds a visiting chair at the University of the West of England.

29 Glandwˆr Cymru Beyond the Towpath