.. Canal Watch Update August 2006..
Wednesday August 23rd 2006
I arranged to meet Stewart Davies (Land and Drainage Officer -Torfaen County Borough Council) at the Five Locks Moorings (Pontnewydd) at 3 p.m ... the weather conditions were dry but overcast; our mission, once again, to walk, discuss and inspect, the sections of the canal which meanders through Cwmbran (Cwmbran Tunnel to Ty Coch Way)
My observations:-
Cwmbran Tunnel to Five Locks Moorings
Minimal litter.
Steps leading down to tunnel need clearing of vegetation. Update: some work done but still requires attention.
Both `Steel
Litter Bins` in use. 
Duckweed prevalent throughout section.
Twelve Mallard Ducks .
Five Locks Moorings
Both Litterbins
in use.
The Moorings, minimal floating litter.
Shrubs will be pruned in the Autumn. Update: Pruning evident (flail) to outside perimeter shrubbery - Pruning still required on inside perimeter shrubbery.
Grid and overflow - require cleaning.
Duckweed prevalent.
Five Locks to Pontnewydd Cascades
.. Pontnewydd Cascades ..
Heavy infiltration of weed in lock at start of section (adjacent to Cross Keys pub). Update: Intention to remove.
Some litter throughout section including bread crate.
Vandalism - the
litterbin adjacent `recreation ground` securing cable missing.
Vandalism - steel bars that form side rails of footbridge, leading to Pontnewydd Park, damaged. Update: steel bars renewed.
Vandalism -
June:-A
fence panel, removed from Pontnewydd Park perimeter and dumped in the
canal. Update: Still awaiting removal.
Litter
bins along section being used.
The Cascade `Ponds` have been cleared of cans, bottles, debris etc;
Several Mallard Ducks and Moorhens.
June:- A Moorhen
nest, `attentive` parents and five chicks.
Update:
Family still
doing `well`.
Duckweed prevalent.
Large patches of Yellow Water-Lillies (Nuphar lutea).
A patch of White Water-Lillies (Nymphaea alba).
Large area of Marsh Horsetail (Equisetum palustre).
Pontnewydd Cascades to Maendy Way
`Steel` Litterbin in use.
Duckweed prevalent.
An Asda shopping trolley in the
canal Lock.
Update: still awaiting removal
Two shopping trolleys and a child's toy Tractor in the canal.
Vandalism- A steel bollard has been removed from the towpath and discarded in the adjacent Lock
N.b Stewart's Team have great difficulty removing rubbish from any of the Locks, due to `Safety concerns` .... I had suggested that the safest way would be to obtain a boat and approach this `concern` at `water level`.
Update: a small boat has been acquired (from Llanyrafon boating lake) and is awaiting it's maiden voyage in August; probably the section at Star Street, Old Cwmbran Update: Hopefully Thursday 31st August.
Maendy Way to Cwmbran Retail Park
Collection of
rubbish, including a television, in the Lock.Update:
Still awaiting removal
`Debris collection grill` needs clearing.
Minimal Litter along main section..
Several Mallards and Moorhens.
Pondweed prevalent.
Cwmbran Retail Park
30th July, ( Towpath opposite Cwmbran Retail Park ) - Torfaen County Borough Council employees prepare a decorative stonework area for a bench seat which will be installed by a working party made up of `Crosscut` volunteers from Wales, Northern Ireland and the Nederlands on Saturday,August 5th 2006.
The project received European Regional Development through the INTEREG III b Community Initiative ..
.. Mark Strickland ( T.C.B.Council ) up to his `waist in water` in the process of constructing a `landing stage` joined fellow `Crosscut` volunteers, constructing a bench seating area on the tow path, opposite Cwmbran Retail Park ..
.. The completed bench seat and paved area ..
.. The bench has this informative plaque attached ..
.. `Pets at Home` store ..
The story so far ...
A compound at the rear of the `Pets at Home` store, has previously been adapted to store the wooden Pallets and `tote` boxes awaiting collection ...
 |
|
.. Storage compound showing fire damage due to vandalism .. |
April
Update: Storage compound needs repairing and
made more secure. August Update: Still not
repaired/unsecured.
 |
|
.. Storage compound unsecured and gate inadequate for the purpose .. |
`Pets at Home` need to address their storage compound framework and security as a matter of priority.
" I sincerely believe the management and staff at the store are `doing their best` to ensure that their `tote boxes and pallets do not end up in the canal, whereby they could endanger the wildlife and also `mar` the intrinsic beauty that should be enjoyed by us all.
I also believe that the ongoing problem of wooden pallets etc; ending up in the canal, will remain; until the necessary support and funding for a secure compound is made available from Head Office.
I intend to forward a copy of this webpage to `Pets at Home` Head Office for their attention".
Update:
On the 29th August I received a positive response from Mr. David Poole (Retail Operations Manager) who informed me that he had requested their Maintenance department to obtain competitive tender prices for either the repair and make good of the storage compound or the total renewal, the latter being his preferred option.
Vandalism -
Several `Crib Lock` stone blocks, beneath wooden footbridge dislodged and
others missing.
Several shoals of fish noticed - Tench, Perch and a solitary `predatory` Pike.
A beautiful
Kingfisher darted along the section.
* The `B & Q` Store are continuing with their policy, whereby all their trolleys, (which are of the non deposit variety); are `rounded up` at the end of each day and secured in the `Trolley compounds`).
Star Street to Henllys Way
Some litter, including a tyre and child's bicycle.
A litterbin installed on a nearby Lamp post being used.
Plan to site a `Steel` Litterbin at this section. Update: `Steel` Litterbin installed 31st August 2006.
Fifty three Mallard ducks.
Duckweed prevalent.
Launch and trial of newly acquired boat- initiated to aid litter/debris removal from previously `out of reach` places.
..T.C.B.Council employees under the watchful eye of Stewart Davies, launch the boat on it's maiden voyage, at Star Street ..
.. August 31st 2006 ..
Henllys Way to Two Locks
Some litter.
Duckweed prevalent.
Steel Litterbin in use.
Two Locks to Ty Coch
Litterbins in use.
Duckweed prevalent.
Several Mallards and Moorhens.
Overall very good.
Various `pockets` of litter throughout canal sections.
Vandalism - the litterbin adjacent `recreation ground` Pontnewydd, securing cable missing.
Vandalism - A steel bollard has been removed from the towpath, Pontnewydd, and discarded in the adjacent Lock.
Vandalism - Several `Crib Lock` stone blocks, beneath wooden footbridge, Cwmbran retail Park, dislodged and others missing.
Torfaen County Borough Council have recently appointed a Community Countryside Warden, who will be responsible for developing and co-ordinating community environmental projects in partnership with community groups as a way of promoting the canal for informal recreation, and educating local people about its history and biodiversity.
Update:
On Tuesday 29th August, I met Hugh Woodford, the newly appointed Community Countryside Warden, to discuss our mutual interest .... I have subsequently joined his `canal volunteers` initiative.
Launch and trial of newly acquired boat- initiated to aid litter/debris removal from previously `out of reach` places.
People walking, fishing, cycling ..... enjoying our industrial heritage and recreational asset.
All Litterbins in use.
Continual evidence of dog owners being responsible by `poop scooping` and depositing the bagged faeces in the litterbins.
`Steel` Litterbin installed on the tow path, at Two Locks - Ty Coch section.
`Steel` Litterbin installed on the tow path, at Star Street - Old Cwmbran.
.. T.CB.Council employees installing new `Steel` Litterbin an the tow path at Star Street - Old Cwmbran ..
.. 31st August 2006 ..
... Each day WE have a Choice ...
... We can choose to work .. With the Environment ...
Or
... We can choose to work .. Against the Environment ...
... Let Our Choice Today ...
... be an Action for a Better Tomorrow ...
Our Future ...
... In Our Hands.
.. Be sure to look out for the September instalment of Canal Watch 2006 ..
