Canal Project Recognised With National Award

A project to restore a one mile stretch of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in Cwmbran has been recognised with a national award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Waterworks project is a partnership between Torfaen council and the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal Trust, and backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It recently won runner up in the ‘Education & Learning’ category at the 2016 Living Waterways Awards. It was also a finalist in the World Canal awards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Restoration began in 2012 and the first lock was fully restored in June 2016. Most of the work has been carried out by volunteers who have gained NVQs and accredited heritage skills in stonemasonry and carpentry, which will help them gain employment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A new video showing the work achieved by the project can be viewed at ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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