Town Council asked to fund canal restoration nature reserve

Welshpool Town Council is to look at ways of funding the running of a nature reserve as part of the multi-million-pound restoration of the Montgomeryshire Canal.

The Town Council has been told that the reopening of the canal between Powys and Shropshire could bring £4m of extra tourism into the area and create over 100 new jobs.

John Dodwell of Montgomeryshire Canal Partnership told the meeting that funding bids of £25m have now been put in for the completion of the project - with the next phase between Llanymynech and Arddleen set to cost £15m alone

He said that "significant progress" could be made on reconnecting the canal to Welshpool in the next three years.

"The gap from Llanymynech to Arddleen is about four and a half miles, the levelling up fund application is based on the work being done by March 2024," he said.

"There's a limit of £20m for how much you can apply for so we had to knock something out to get under the threshold so if we are successful it will restore the canal back to Maerdy south of four crosses with the two crossings to be dealt with later which is why there's a separate application to the Mid Wales growth fund.

"If we're successful with the levelling up fund you'll see significant progress by March 2024."

The meeting was also told how new nature reserves would need to be created as part of the project and it was hoped that Welshpool Town Council could take on a lease at a nominal cost of £1,000 per year.

Mr Dodwell said it had a "symbolic importance" that the council was involved.

And while several councillors expressed concerns that the Town Council did not have the money it was agreed to take the matter back to committee to discuss ways of funding the nature reserve.

Councillor Chris Davies said: “We will find ways to pay this annual fee if we have to go out fund raising to do so.”