Home

This website has been built to bring public awareness to the serious water supply problems threatening the future of the 8 miles long Tennant Canal in South Wales. (pictures taken in Summer 2021)

January 17, 2022, South Wales West MS, Sioned Williams backs calls for the preservation of the historic Tennant Canal following concerns over its future. Full press release

Since 1824, the Tennant canal’s main source of water supply came from the River Neath at Aberdulais by way of the spectacular Aqueduct until its closure. The Canal was then supplied via a River Weir which mysteriously collapsed in February 2015? Please visit our FOI page for more information in relation to the damaged Weir.

After three years with no direct water supply and the Weir still not repaired the canal’s condition began to seriously deteriorate until in June 2018, after a hot, dry spell, with canal levels down to only a few inches in places putting thousands of fish at risk, the owners Port Tennant Company (Canal) were forced to take action.

Licenced by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) the owners decided to install large pumps to help restore some water supply to the canal from the River Neath. The BBC reported this news on 29 June 2018. Tennant canal ‘at risk’ due to hot weather and water flow.

An FOI suggests that ‘Calon Energy LTD’ was one of the main contributors to the Aberdulais pumping operations and costs. The same Calon Energy that was taking significant amounts of water from the Tennant Canal via the pumping station at Jersey Marine to its Baglan Bay Plant until the company went into liquidation on March 24th, 2021. The Power Station was due to be switched off completely on January 14, 2022, but the Welsh government sought an injunction at the last moment for the plant to remain open until Businesses and NPTC offices around the Baglan site can be reconnected to the National grid. BBC report

Earlier last year and without public notice, the pumps were removed by the Port Tennant Canal Company from the Aberdulias site, once again cutting the Tennant Canal’s lifeline risking an environmental injustice that could have far-reaching effects on the water’s wildlife for years to come.

It’s been seven years since the mysterious damage to the River Weir cut the Tennant canals’ direct water supply. This along with no proper maintenance on the waterway for many years. Although In October 2021, after some determined public pressure, the owners did decide to restart some basic canal maintenance, nowhere near enough to make any difference to the neglected waterway, its towpaths, or its listed buildings.

The canal is recognised as a site of interest for Nature Conservation (SINCs), with some stretches also being part of a nationally and internationally designated area. The Tennant canal forms part of the Crymlyn Bog and Pant y Sais Fen areas for conservation. The canal and its areas hold a multitude of wild and aquatic life including the extremely rare and protected Fen Raft Spider discovered in the canal in 2003.

So the first objective is simple. The owners should reinstall the temporary water pumps at Aberdulais restoring a water supply (although reduced) from the River Neath to the Tennant canal until the Weir is fixed or another permanent solution can be found. ‘All canal maintenance in full to restart immediately.’

Please write to your politicians from our take action link or/and use this website making it easy to write to the politicians who represent you.

Please join the Facebook Group called Save the Tennant Canal with over 1200 members and have just formalised a ‘Not-for-profit’ Community Interest Company, specifically to protect, promote & develop the Tennant Canal for the public, and its associated historical artefacts. To join the FB Group and find out more please visit ‘Save the Tennant Canal‘

• Sioned Williams MS backs cross-party calls to protect the Tennant Canal
• Freedom of Information Requests
• NPTC Council claim they knew nothing about the damaged Weir
• The Beautiful Swans of the Tennant Canal (video)
• A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
• The Tennant Canal has been Abandoned?
• The Jersey Marine Pumps fall Silent
• History of the Tennant Canal

The Welsh Government funded the Waterways and Wildlife handbook in managing our natural environment.

We are regularly updating this website so I thank you for being patient while we complete the process.