.. Canal Watch Update June 2006..
June 26th 2006
I arranged to meet Stewart Davies (Land and Drainage Officer -Torfaen County Borough Council) at the Five Locks Moorings (Pontnewydd) at1p.m ... the weather conditions were cool with steady rain, our mission, once again, to walk, discuss and inspect, the sections of the canal which meanders through Cwmbran (Cwmbran Tunnel to Ty Coch Way)
Our observations:-
Cwmbran Tunnel to Five Locks Moorings
Minimal litter.
Newly installed `Steel Bin` in use.
Duckweed prevalent.
Several Mallard Ducks.
Five Locks Moorings
The Moorings clear of litter.
Last month :One of the two plastic Litterbins, vandalised - outer casing removed and `missing`. Update: Outer casing replaced.
Shrubs protruding through perimeter fence - need pruning. Update: Shrubs have been trimmed - they will be pruned in the Autumn.
Duckweed prevalent.
.. Pontnewydd Cascades ..
Five Locks to Pontnewydd Cascades
Some litter throughout section.
Vandalism- A fence panel, removed from Pontnewydd Park perimeter and dumped in the canal.
Newly installed `Steel ` Litterbin adjacent to recreational ground; in use.
Other Litter bins along section being used.
Several Mallard Ducks and Moorhens.
A Moorhen nest, `attentive` parents and five very young chicks.
One litterbin has had it's inner liner removed and discarded in the canal Update: inner liner recovered and outer-frame of Litterbin secured.
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
Weir boards at the Lock need replacing. Update: Boards made of Douglas Fir on order
A newly installed `Steel` Litterbin in use.
Duckweed prevalent.
An Asda shopping trolley in the canal Lock complete with a Mallard nest and egg.
May Update: Egg missing, no evidence of `nest sitting` ... Trolley will be removed.
June Update: On a later inspection `Mother` duck has returned and two eggs evident; will leave trolley in situe.
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 July; probably the section at Star Street, Old Cwmbran
Maendy Way to Cwmbran Retail Park
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 ...
April Update: Storage compound needs repairing and made more secure.
Two `Pets at Home` tote boxes dumped in the canal section near the store.
`Pets at Home` need to address their storage compound framework and security as a matter of priority.
.. The Council will `charge` the store for retrieval/collection of items that litter the canal ..
Two trolleys observed this month. (not B&Q)
*n.b B & Q now have a continuing 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.
A litterbin installed on a nearby Lamp post being used.
Plan to site a `Steel` Litterbin at this section. Update: awaiting schedule.
Duckweed prevalent.
Several clumps of Yellow Iris's (Iris pseudacorus) in flower.
Henllys Way to Two Locks
Overall very good.
Duckweed prevalent.
A Moorhen and her chicks (off to the shops?)
Recently installed Steel Litterbin in use.
.. Azure Damselfly (Conagrion puella) ..
Two Locks to Ty Coch
Litterbins in use.
Duckweed prevalent.
Overall good, although brick work needs replacing at the `cascade`.
Update: I am informed that the brickwork would be rectified in July.
Negative Elements
Vandalism- A fence panel, removed from Pontnewydd Park perimeter and dumped in the canal.
Various `pockets` of litter throughout canal sections.
Positive Elements
Grass cutting continues as scheduled.
All Litterbins in use.
Continual evidence of dog owners being responsible by `poop scooping` and depositing the bagged faeces in the litterbins.
Four `Steel` Litterbins, installed - replacing vandalised `Plastic` Litterbins, still in `Good Shape`
Two more `Steel` Litterbins to be installed July.
We observed several Mallards, ducklings, Moorhens and their chicks, Moorhen nests-second brood, Perch, Bream, Chubb, Tench, Carp, minnows, swarms of midges, masses of `baby` frogs and several `copulating` Damselflies.
... 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.
