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Company of Proprietors of the Neath Canal Navigation

AINA Representative: Mr Bob Minty - Manager

Bank Side
The Green
Neath
SA11 1RH

Telephone: 01639 635282
Fax: 01639 631040

Email: neathcanalnav@btconnect.com

Constitutional status 

Statutory navigation authority under the 1791 Neath Canal Act 1796 and 1911.

Description of navigation

Rural and urban narrow canal, under restoration.

A brief history of the navigation

Although the canal ceased operating as an industrial transport system in 1920, the section of canal particularly between Abergarwed and Briton Ferry continued to be maintained to a high standard to provide an important water supply to the various heavy industries located along its lower route.

Opened in 1795, the canal was 10.5 miles long with 19 locks from Neath to Clyn-Neath. There were plans to improve the river but, in 1799, this was changed when the canal was extended 2.5 miles to Giant’s Grave below Neath, where a port developed although there was never any access between the estnuary and the canal. The venture was prosperous through the 19th century despite competition from the railway, but by the 1920’s traffic had effectively ceased.

In 1990 the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and the Neath & Tennant Canals Preservation Society completed the total restoration of 6km of the canal above Resolven, utilising funding provided by the Welsh Office and th Price of Wales Trust. Restoration has continued, and between 1999-2001 over £600k was invested in improving the canal and the towpaths for leisure use between Tonna and Briton Ferry. These towpaths now form part of Sustrans’ National Cycle Route.

In 1993 a ferruginous discharge emerged from a minewater adit at Ynysarwed which resulted I the canal being severely polluted for a 7km length south as far as Tonna Lock.

However, a prototype chemical treatment plant coupled with a finishing wetland was designed, installed and commissioned by 2000, thus preventing any further pollution from this source entering the canal. Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council managed this scheme costing approx. £1.6million, with funding being procured from the Welsh Office RECHAR programme.

Further grant funding was procured from the Welsh European Funding Office, Welsh Development Agency, Neath Port Talbot CBC, BP Chemicals and the Neath Canal Navigation amounting to £2.7million, allowing the restoration of the polluted sections of the canal between Abergarwed and Tonna Lock. This work included the staged draining of the canal and the removal to designated landfill sites of approx. 65,000 tonnes of polluted dredgings, plus the rebuilding of damaged canal walls, sluices and bridges along the restored length.

Following a formal tendering process, the contract for undertaking the project was awarded to the Neath Canal Navigation’s direct labour organisation supported by specialist sub-contractors and work commenced in November 2003 and was completed on schedule by November 2005.

Current situation and use

Building on the success of the above project, the NCN have received a further £1.6million of funding from the Welsh European Funding Office and the Neath and Port Talbot CBC Local Regional Fund for the restoration of three locks in the Clyne area, and the replacement of the current piped section of the canal across the River neath at Ynysbwllog with a new single span steel aqueduct measuring 52 metres.

Talks have also commenced with Neath Port Talbot CBC to ensure that the newly restored canal sections will be maximised for recreation and sporting facilities, whilst all future maintenance programmes will be designed to enable the facility to continue to act as an outstanding linear nature reserve down through the Neath Valley.

Plans for the future

Gareth Kiddie Associations have produced a ‘Local Interpretation Plan’ for the Tonna area and Groundwork are already working to secure the funding for undertaking woodland and other public improvements to enhance the work already completed and detailed above.

The Neath and Tennant Canals Preservation Society have also been successful in obtaining two funding allocations of £50k from the Neath Port Talbot Community Rural Capital Key Fund. This money will be spent on the following projects:

• Refurbishment of lock gates on the Resolven section of the canal
• Undertake a full condition survey of the existing canal network and to provide detailed engineering appraisal and costing for restoring the infilled section of canal between Abergarwed and Resolven.
• When the above minor projects are completed the NCN management will commence identifying potential funding sources for restoring the infilled section of canal between Abergarwed and Resolven which, when completed, would produce approx. 17-18km of navigable canal with 13 operational locks, aqueducts and tunnels and five strategically placed canal basins.

How we consult with our users

We work closely with the Neath and Tennant Canals Preservation Society plus all departments of the local authority, including planners, canal officer, environmental and footpaths officers. Also, through parish councils, community groups at neath and Briton Ferry, plus angling and canoeing clubs. In addition, a local Sustrans agent monitors sections of canal utilised as cycleways, plus schools on capital projects specified above.

How we are structured

The shareholders appoint a committee and a volunteer chairman, usually representing the major shareholder which is BP Chemicals.

The manager is responsible for the day to day operation of the canal and has been responsible for obtaining all recent funding and overseeing the construction works and the production of budget/forecast information.

A small part-time office staff is maintained and normally a maintenance team of approx. four which is expanded when dictated by contract work activities.

Over the last 10 years the company has diversified into external specialist contracting work with a view to producing alternative revenue streams and currently own considerable specialist plant and dredging equipment.

We are also an approved Local Authority Contractor.

Navigation statistics

Boating statistics

12 month period

Licences/Registrations

Requirements for boating

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