Swansea Canal At Ynysmeudwy Gets A Spring Clean

12 April 2005

British Waterways recently teamed up with Swansea Canal Society for a spring cleaning session along the Swansea Canal at Ynysmeudwy in readiness for the new visitor season.

 

As part of a national initiative, British Waterways staff from across South Wales and a group of volunteers from Swansea Canal Society undertook various jobs to improve the canalside environment for the thousands of visitors set to flock to the waterways during the summer.

 

British Waterways Wales & Border Counties Service Manager Susan Lanesaid the spring clean has set the scene for the forthcoming season. 

 

?Improvements to the waterway environment are a key aspect of our visitor strategy as well as an integral part of our role in conserving the natural appearance and balance of our waterways,? said Ms Lane.

 

The work at Ynysmeudwy focussed around the last-remaining lock keeper?s hut on the canal, which received a new coat of paint.   In addition a footbridge was installed across the canal and large amounts of litter and vegetation were removed.   The result is a pleasant spot with much better access to the canalside.

 

?This work will benefit not only visitors to the area but also the local communities around the Swansea canal,? commented Ms Lane.

 

?The contribution made by waterway volunteer groups, such as the Swansea Canal Society, in the successful delivery of all our spring clean projects can?t be overstated.   Indeed Swansea Canal Society members came from as far as Carmarthen and the Gower to lend a hand with the clear up,? she added.

 

For more information contact: Sue Lane, Wales and Border Counties Service Manager on 01606 723810 and 07917 327855 or Andy Goss, Wales & Border Counties Senior Engineer on 01873 832051 and 07887 545561.

 

EDITOR?S NOTES:

 

?         Photos attached:

1.   ?The last remaining lock keeper?s hut on the Swansea canal midst the undergrowth, 

before British Waterways staff got to work.?

      2.   ?A happy team from British Waterways, at the end of their successful spring clean.? 

 

?         British Waterways is the public corporation responsible for the care and maintenance of the UK?s 2,000 mile, 200-year-old network of canals and navigable rivers. British Waterways works in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations to develop and improve the waterways in a sustainable manner for the benefit of everyone. Our navigations are visited over 160 million times a year by 10 million people, who spend around ?1.5 billion annually. In addition, British waterways estimates that waterways regeneration has acted as a catalyst for ?2 billion of regeneration investment. 

 

?         The Swansea Canal as constructed in 1794-98 as one of the major South Wales waterways during the economic boom of the Industrial Revolution.   Built primarily for the movement of coal, the canal commenced at Swansea and terminated at Abercraf, and was originally 16 miles long with 36 locks.   At present two sections of the canal, totalling 5? miles, remain in use for leisure activities: from Clydach to Trebanos and from Pontardawe to Ynysmeudwy.

 

?         Formed in 1981, the Swansea Canal Society aims to promote the canal as a local amenity, an educational resource and an asset for regeneration.   This dedicated group of volunteers undertakes regular work along the Swansea Canal.   Their next litter pick is planned for Sunday 24th April at 10.30am, meeting at the Castle Hotel, Pontardawe. 

 

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