Three off-line water-based nature reserves will be created alongside the canal to protect the canal’s natural standing as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, in line with an agreed Conservation Management Plan to increase water traffic.
The target is to increase current 500 boats per year to 2,500 per year and allow kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards to navigate the waterway.
Craig Williams, Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire, has hailed the Chancellor’s announcement as “a milestone day for Montgomeryshire.”
The approved funding will also be a major contributory factor to the final aim of restoring the Canal to the national canal network.
The project will specifically focus on progressing the restoration of navigation to a 4.4-mile section from the Wales-England border at Llanymynech to Arddleen.
Leader of Powys County Council, Councillor Rosemarie Harris said: “We are delighted that our bid to the UK Fund to revitalise a disused section of the canal, linking it to navigable sections and the national network has been successful.
“The phased restoration and regeneration of the canal will see the waterway become a flagship visitor attraction, providing long-term economic, cultural and recreational benefits to local communities.
“Our plans will protect and enhance the canal’s unique natural environment with the creation of three new off-line water-based nature reserves, to balance the anticipated increase in canal traffic. We will be working with the canal’s owners and operators, the Canal and River Trust, with the project being delivered by the Montgomery Canal Partnership.
“Today’s announcement is not just great news for north Powys and the immediate canal vicinity, it will stimulate economic growth for the region attracting increased visitors, creating and protect jobs providing a boost to local economies.
“We have seen from other canal restoration project in the UK the economic boost that this kind of infrastructure project can deliver, with huge increases in visitor numbers, with day-visitors becoming stay-visitors and increased spend in the local economy,” she added.
Welcoming today’s Budget announcement, Craig Williams MP said: “Today represents a milestone day in Montgomeryshire’s history, after decades of local campaigning. I am thrilled that Powys County Council’s Levelling Up Fund bid to restore and reconnect Montgomery Canal to the national network has been successful.
"This will transform Montgomeryshire’s economy in opening up so many opportunities, and will finally see one of the UK’s most picturesque attractions returned to its former glory.
“I would like to thank the Chancellor and my HM Treasury colleagues for approving the funding. It is clear that Montgomeryshire is central to the UK Government’s plans for a more visible and active role within Wales through the Levelling Up Fund, as well as the Mid Wales Growth Deal. The restoration of the Canal will bring real investment, real growth and real jobs to Montgomeryshire’s communities.
“I would also like to pay my wholehearted tributes to all of the fantastic volunteers at the Montgomery Canal Partnership and Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, who have campaigned tirelessly for decades and dedicated so much of their personal time to restoring sections of the Canal, in conjunction with the Canal & Rivers Trust and my predecessor Glyn Davies.
"Also not forgetting the huge commitment of previous campaigners such as Claude Millington, whose devotion to the cause proved a massive driving force for the campaign. It goes without saying that today’s announcement would never have been possible without all of their efforts and hard work.”
Russell George MS said: “I am absolutely thrilled by the announcement from the UK Government on this huge investment into Mid Wales to restore the Montgomery Canal. This will provide a much-needed boost to the local economy and will benefit both Montgomeryshire residents and visitors to the area.
“I look forward to seeing the project commence as soon as possible and to taking a ride along the whole of the restored Montgomery Canal."