A half mile stretch of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal near Llangattock and Dardy will benefit from major engineering work this winter, the Canal and River Trust has confirmed.

The project, which will see the temporary closure of the canal between bridges 116-118, includes replacing the aged clay canal bed with a new PVC and concrete alternative. The work is essential to ensure the 200-year-old canal is secure and can continue to thrive well into the future, continuing to support the local businesses and communities that rely on it.  

The Trust – which looks after the 2,000 miles of waterways in Wales and England – is inviting people to find out more about the £1.2million project, the improvements it will bring and how it will affect canal users at a drop-in session at the Old Rectory Hotel in Llangattock on October 24. Engineers will be on hand to talk about the work being done.

Work will begin on November 5 and is scheduled to be complete by mid-March, 2013. During this time canal navigation and the towpath will be closed from lock 115-118.

Lee Bradley, Engineer for the Canal & River Trust, who will be managing the project, said: "The Mon and Brec is one of the jewels of the canal network and a 200-year-old feat of engineering. This project is vital to making the canal navigable for future decades and extremely important when it comes to protecting the surrounding environment.

"We know there is huge interest and support for the Mon and Brec, thousands of people live on it, work on it and visit each year, which is why it continues to thrive. The drop-in session is an opportunity to find out more about why the work is being done. These types of projects are always more successful when the local community has an input, so I would encourage people to come and visit us."

The drop-in session will run from 6.30-8.30pm at the Old Rectory Hotel, Crickhowell. Anyone wishing to attend can drop in between these times. Light refreshments will be available.

For more information about the Mon and Brec, which celebrated its bi-centenary this year, including opportunities to boat, walk, cycle and take part in volunteering and ecology teams visit: canalrivertrust.org.uk/canals-and-rivers/monmouthshire-and-brecon-canal