18 December 2025

Following British Marine’s call on the Welsh Government earlier this year to work with the Canal & River Trust to secure an affordable water supply agreement with Welsh Water that would safeguard the future of navigation on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, we very relieved that the Government has now agreed to provide cover of up to £400,000 a year for the next five years.

This latest announcement, builds on the short-term agreement reached earlier this year and which was due to expire in March 2026.  The new additional government support follows on from the representations made by British Marine’s Chief Executive, Lesley Robinson, to the Deputy First Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, which were backed by Caroline Fookes MP for Monmouthshire and others.

These lobbying efforts were first reported to members in April 2025, after Lesley had written to the Minister highlighting members’ concerns that, due to stricter water abstraction license conditions, the amount of water that could be abstracted in future from the River Usk was unlikely to be sufficient to maintain adequate water levels in the canal for navigation. Therefore, an alternative and more affordable agreement between CRT and Welsh Water needed to be brokered.

With CRT’s funds already heavily stretched, it was clear that without Welsh Government’s financial support there would be no such agreement. It would have meant the economic contribution of the canal, which is estimated to over £26.5m per annum, would be at risk.

Therefore, whilst the latest agreement still requires CRT to pay £100,000 per annum, it means water supply to the Canal will be secure for the next five years and this allows more time for a longer terms solution (which is likely to require significant capital works) to be developed.  This latest agreement will not only be a huge relief to boaters and the inland trade operating on the canal but also welcome news for the wider community which benefits marine tourism and the 4.5m visitors who visit the canal each year. 

British Marine will continue to support the efforts of CRT as it works with Natural Resources  Wales and Welsh Water to devise a more sustainable long-term solution that will secure the long-term future of this highly popular and beautiful canal.