She said,‘These works will improve the boating experience along this stretch of the waterway for the foreseeable future and demonstrate our continuing commitment to maintaining and developing the canals of Wales. ‘Vital maintenance works such as dredging are essential and must continue despite the recent severe funding cutbacks imposed by DEFRA (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure the economic and social potential of the canals in Wales is realised.’

The work, scheduled for completion by the end of the year, will provide a suitable depth of clear water and allow for some re-silting, with the canal being dredged to provide an estimated clear channel at least 5.3m wide and 0.9m deep.

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal is prone to silting because of its location in the scenic Usk valley. Water and debris runs into it from the surrounding hills and leaves fall from the thousands of trees that line its banks.

The project will utilise the silt from dredging to stabilise eroded banks, making the work both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Coir rolls, hazel faggots and a woven geo-textile bank protection system will be placed in the water alongside the eroding bank. Then the area between the coir rolls and the bank will be filled with the silt dredged from this stretch of the canal. Coir rolls are completely bio-degradable and being made from processed coconut husk fibres, they qualify as a recycled material.

Pre-planted coir rolls present an effective erosion solution using plants as the main ingredient and enhance the habitat by introducing ready-established species.

Plain coir rolls enable vegetation embedded in the dredged silt to be recycled, encouraging continuity of plant life. The geo-textile support will also enable vegetation to get established easily through the fabric.

By DAVID GOODFELLOW