Concern over state of old canal cottages

Concern has been raised over the state of two former canal cottages along the Montgomery Canal near Newtown.

A committee of the town council discussed the ongoing work of renovating and opening up the canal to the town when the matter of two former cottages was raised.

Cllr John Barker said he had walked along the canal recent from Abermule and had seen the state of the cottages. It is understood they belong to one of the authorities with responsibility for the canal.

The Strategy and Corporate Projects Committee was told the cottages, near Dolfor lock, had once been offered to purchase by the town council.

The Mayor, Cllr David Selby, said the importance of the canal had been highlighted in recent times due to the number of people walking it for their exercise during the coronavirus situation.

"The tow path has been used much more than it has ever been. More people are seeing the canal," he said.

A range of authorities and charities are hoping the canal can eventually be opened up towards Newtown as part of it being opened to the national canal network.