Canal Volunteer Recognised With National Award

A volunteer who has played a leading role in the regeneration of the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal has been recognised with a national award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard Dommett MBE has worked for 15 years in a voluntary capacity as the regeneration manager for the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal Trust. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since retiring in 2002 he has campaigned and fundraised at a local and national level for the restoration of UK canals and waterways, and has been a driving force behind the Waterworks Project which aims to reopen the section of canal in Ty Coch, Cwmbran. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During his time as site manager Mr Dommett has supported more than 200 volunteers, helping many young people who were not in education, employment or training to gain valuable skills, which have helped them to find jobs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He also developed a new prototype steel lock gate in conjunction with Swansea University which has the potential to be rolled out to other restoration projects across the world. 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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He was awarded the Christopher Power Prize by the Inland Waterways Association which recognises the person, society or trust who has made the most significant contribution to the restoration on an inland waterway. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Dommett said: “I am very humbled by this award, but one person couldn’t have done this alone and it is really an award for the hundreds of volunteers and others who have worked so hard on this project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are doing this for the community, to improve the local environment and ultimately give people the training and skills they need to get jobs. We have achieved a lot over the years but there is much more we could do and I hope that the project continues to secure funding to allow it to continue into the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Bob Wellington CBE, leader of Torfaen council, said: “I have worked with Richard since this project began 15 years ago and he is an inspiration. Under his direction we have transformed a derelict area of canal into a cleaner, greener environment for the community, and there are many young people now in jobs that would still be unemployed if it wasn’t for Richard’s support. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Everything he does is for the canal, the volunteers and the local community, and his work will be remembered for generations.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​