Neath Port Talbot Council, in their Local Development Plan, have proposed to remove the protection on the piped section of the canal between Pontardawe and Trebanos. The Society and the Canal and River Trust are hoping to restore this part of the canal at a future date to make a complete canal from Clydach to Ynysysmeudwy. If this protection is removed then this can never happen.

Public consultation is now being sought by Neath PortTalbot Council on their intention to remove the protection to the Swansea Canal route from Pontardawe Playing Fields in Trebanos to the gated area next to Mamas Paradise Night Club in Pontardawe. This is the 800 yard Piped Section. We have made representations to have the section listed as an ‘alternative site’ with protected status.

Please write into the Council in support of retaining the protection. The wording needs to include that you support ‘the alternative site’ This is our only hope of reinstating its protected status.

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I found one ‘alternative site’ notice at Trebanos Lower Lock yesterday and have taken photos of it.To see the full reports of all the alternative sites go to:-

http://www.npt.gov.uk/PDF/ldp_register_of_alternative_sites_jan_2014.pdf
The ‘Piped section’ is shown on page 110

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You have until March the 10th to send in your support for the alternative site (that is, safeguarding the protected status). If development is allowed on this part of the canal route it will make any reinstatement of the canal here impossible.

http://www.npt.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=7984
or if you Google ‘Neath Port Talbot Council Alternative Sites’, this will give you all the information.

The references to this part of the canal route and NPT’s original intentions for it are to be found on page 78 of their LDP Final Deposit Plan August 2013 (the link to it is shown on the attached photos).

PLEASE HELP US SAVE AND RESTORE YOUR CANAL