WORKMEN have taken the plunge into the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal at Llangynidr, as essential improvements are made to the waterway.

More than £2 million has been invested in repairs to the canal by Glandwr Cymru, the Canal and River Trust in Wales.

This includes a £1.3 million project to reline the canal at Llangynidr to prevent leaks, which has commenced this month.

These important works involve draining a stretch of the canal, but before this could happen thousands of fish had to be removed to safety.

A process called electrofishing has been used, which involves using a low-electrical current to stun the river’s residents so they can be scooped out of the water and moved with ease.

The electrofishing revealed that the 200-year-old canal supports a flourishing variety of fish, including pike, perch, roach, and bream.

The trust is also providing £400,000 to repair the aqueduct at Goytre Wharf.

Other works being carried out include dredging the canal to make it easier for boats to navigate, for which £546,000 has been set aside already.

These repairs and renovations are part of Glandwr Cymru’s winter maintenance programme.

The waterways of the UK are currently becoming a popular destination for day trips and holidays, with more people visiting them than ever before.

More than £45 million is being spent altogether on the repairs.

Nick Worthington, waterway manager at Glandwr Cymru, believes that the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is one of the most beautiful in Britain.

He said, “The canal is of huge value to the local area, both to people working on and around the waterway and to visitors who flock here each year.

“But it requires a lot of maintenance to keep it running smoothly, a job that is made all the more challenging when it’s built half way up a hill!”

The historic Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal dates back to 1812, and was once an arterial connection between South Wales’ centres of commerce.

Today it is popular with boaters and walkers, and is home to many species of fish and birds, as well as otters.

•Work on the canal