spotlight on Aberdulais

Aberdulais Aqueduct after storm damage.

Spotlight on...

Aberdulais

Aberdulais Aqueduct, a Grade II* listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument, is at risk from the effects of climate change.

IWA’s Restoration Hub and South Wales Branch, in partnership with the Neath & Tennant Canals Trust, are campaigning to protect the Aberdulais Aqueduct and the adjacent lock so they can form part of a restored waterway.

Aberdulais Aqueduct, completed in 1824, joins the Neath and Tennant canals. It is an important link in the proposed Swansea Bay Inland Waterway, which would join up with the Swansea Canal to form a 30-mile route.

A feasibility report, carried out in 2012 by Neath Port Talbot Council, did not result in any further action.

In early 2020, Storm Dennis caused further damage to the aqueduct, overwheming the low arches with floodwaters. Debris built up and some masonry was swept away. Flooding also affected local residents, some of whom saw the aqueduct’s removal as the solution.

Climate change is likely to bring more damaging storms and further flooding issues. In 2021, IWA began compiling a heritagepartnership agreement that would bring together the owners of the aqueduct (Port Tennant Company), Cadw (the Welsh Government’s historic environment service), the local authority and Natural Resources Wales (NRW). We felt there needed to be a long-term management plan to agree a programme of works to stabilise the structure. In addition, a longer-term flood management strategy was needed for the area.

Our campaign to save Aberdulais Aqueduct has involved conversations with NRW and the local council. There are concerns that both organisations would support the removal of the aqueduct to alleviate local flooding issues. We have also had meetings with Cadw and the owners of the aqueduct. We are also supporting the local trust to rebuild relationships with local residents and work with the ‘Save the Tennant Canal’ group to create further pressure at a local level.

In August 2021, IWA successfully applied for a Cadw grant to cover the cost of a structural survey of the aqueduct. It was needed to get a better idea of the scale of the repair work and potential cost implications. Mann Williams, which specialises in creative conservation of historic buildings and structures, undertook the survey and produced a report at the end of January 2022.

The main conclusion of the investigation and report is that, despite appearances, the condition of the monument is relatively stable and, in its current state, repair is feasible. IWA believes urgent and immediate works should be done as quickly as possible to mitigate further damage, which would increase the cost and complexity of repairs.

In early May 2022, IWA, Neath & Tennant Canals Trust and Cadw jointly hosted a site visit with all the key stakeholders (NRW, Neath Port Talbot Council, the owners of the aqueduct and

Network Rail) to discuss and agree the next steps for the project to conserve the structure and consolidate what is currently there, so that in the future it can be strengthened, relined and reverted back to navigation.

At a local level, there is a growing awareness of heritage and the importance of project heritage assets in the area. We believe there is a real opportunity to save this heritage asset and will continue to lead on this campaign.

It’s a complex multi-agency situation involving flood management, water supply to the Tennant Canal and repairs to a significant river weir but, hopefully, stabilisation work will ensure the aqueduct is protected for future regeneration plans.

Considering the next steps.

Side view of storm damage.

What's next for Aberdulais?

• All involved support the idea of a appointing a contractor to undertake the urgent/short-term works identified in the

Mann Williams report. • IWA has asked Mann Williams to look into the cost of preparing a tender document to go out to contractors to cost the work. • Crucially, funding needs to be found for this work – Cadw indicated it would fund more than 50% of the cost but we would need to source the rest. IWA South Wales Branch and the Neath & Tennant Canals Trust are looking into options for fundraising, including crowdfunding. • IWA will continue to engage with Neath Port Talbot

Council, Cadw and Natural Resources Wales to protect the canal and its restoration so it features in their future plans. We will demonstrate the benefits of waterway regeneration and protecting assets from flood damage.