THE Neath and Tennant Canals Trust has hit out after a key element in plans to restore the waterways to full navigation was deleted from a consultation exercise.
The trust has registered a formal complaint with Neath Port Talbot Council about the way the consultation was conducted, stating that the omission of the commitment to restore both canals to full navigation questions the credibility of the whole study.
The study, which is backed by more than £100,000 of National Lottery cash, aims to come up with long-term plans for the canals after a public consultation.
However, the Neath and Tennant Canals Trust believes not including a question on restoring the canals to full navigation is a mistake.
A statement on the trust’s website says: “Option 4, which represents a commitment to restore both canals to full navigation, is not included.
“The council cannot therefore choose to exclude Option 4 from the questionnaire – seemingly because its far-reaching commitment to restoring navigation might be viewed favourably by respondents.
“The omission of Option 4 serves to mislead the public, renders the consultation exercise meaningless and any conclusions derived from it to be invalid. At worst it has the potential to question the credibility of the feasibility study.”
In a previous statement the council said it was looking for feedback from residents to help add definition to the options it is exploring. It is working with consultants AtkinsRealis to come up with future uses for the canals, including restoration and regeneration.
National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Places initiative has provided £113,850 for the study.
Nicola Pearce, director of environment and regeneration at Neath Port Talbot Council, said:
“Neath Port Talbot Council is committed to facilitating the sustainable conservation and management of our historic and natural environment, including our local canal network. As such we secured funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to undertake an options appraisal to look at ways to restore and regenerate the Neath and Tennant canals.
“We have commissioned consultants AtkinsRéalis to establish a phased process to develop and improve the canals. A full navigability option is part of this commission but will form part of a long-term plan dependent on external funding, working alongside the owners of the canals.
“Our current public survey includes sections where people can give detailed feedback on any aspect of this process but is primarily focused on what is deliverable in the short and medium term, through current funding streams.
“Canals are recognised as a key asset in Neath Port Talbot Council’s Heritage Strategy 2024-2039, and we are aiming to work collaboratively to embark on a process which will not happen overnight.”
The study will be part of the long-term Canal Connections/Cysylltiadau Camlesi project working towards regenerating the canal system into an accessible community asset for active recreation and travel and establishing it as a heritage visitor destination which connects local communities.
The canals are linked together and total 21 miles long, running from Briton Ferry to Neath and beyond to Glyneath, and from Jersey Marine to Skewen, before linking at Aberdulais.
The Neath and Tennant Canal Trust was formed in 1974 to restore and promote the canals. It owns the Neath Canal Workshops at Tonna and has helped restore canal locks and pounds.
