The Montgomery Canal needs to be opened up in Newtown

Work should be done to open up the Montgomery Canal into Newtown, according to the Mayor, Cllr David Selby.

His comments came after he visited a photographic exhibition in the town's library of the canal.

Work is ongoing to open up the canal to the national network. Much of this work is being undertaken at Llanymynech to link to the Welshpool section which is cut off near Arddleen.

Much of the canal in Newtown was filled in and parts have been built on since the 1960s.

However, it does reach towards the town's sewage facility near Llanllwchaiarn and can be walked along to Welshpool.

Cllr Selby said after visiting the that he would "love to see the restored Montgomeryshire Canal reaching Newtown once again.  The Town Council has an ambition to see canal boats in the town and supports the work of volunteers and the Canal and River Trust working on that aim."

"Currently the restoration work is working near Llanymynech in the north of Powys, working towards Welshpool, but there are opportunities to work on disused locks near Newtown in the future and find ways of restoring the last few miles into town. This is a another way of bringing visitors and trade into the town."

The exhibition of photographs of the canal and restoration work is in Newtown Library for the next few weeks.

 

Photo: Cllr Selby at the photographic exhibition