Canal Lock Reopened After 100 Years

The first of six locks to be restored by volunteers on a derelict section of canal in Cwmbran is fully operational for the first time in almost 100 years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lower Brake Lock, on the Ty Coch section of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, has been restored as part of the Waterworks Project which is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and aims to reopen the canal to boats. It is the first time that the lock has been used by boats since it was abandoned in the 1920s. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Restoration began in 2012 and most of the work has been carried out by volunteers who have gained accredited heritage skills in stonemasonry and carpentry which will also help them gain employment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In order to get the locks working again, new modular metal and wooden gates were designed as a partnership project with Swansea University, Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal Trust, Kennet and Avon Canal Trust and Torfaen council. The gates are designed to be cheaper than traditional oak gates, have a life span of about 100 years and can be assembled easily, making them perfect for volunteer driven projects. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The leader of Torfaen council, Bob Wellington CBE, said: “The restoration project at Ty Coch is a huge success story. The canal is an important part of our heritage and the project is returning this particular section of canal to its former glory. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These new gates are truly innovative and a world first. They can be customised to fit any type of canal lock, and could play an important part in canal restoration across the world. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our goal is that we will see the canal fully navigable for people to enjoy, and this project will leave a lasting legacy, not just for Torfaen, but for all of Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Luke Shanahan, 22, from Trevethin, has volunteered on the project for four years. He said: “I got involved with this project when I was unemployed. I wasn’t interested in canals but I now really enjoy it, and I have learnt new skills in stonework, carpentry and driving heavy machinery. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It has been a great experience and I now have a job working for the canal trust.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard Dommett from the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal Trust said: “The project is a fantastic success and Ty Coch is now a real asset for the whole community. Our main goal is to see the canal brought back into full use and with the opening of the lock we have taken a significant step forward. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Volunteers from all over south Wales have come to work on this project and everyone involved in this partnership should be very proud of their hard work.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project is a partnership between Torfaen council and the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal Trust. A further four locks will be completed by the time the project comes to an end in September 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​