Dear IWA Members
Williams Bridge planning application – your support is needed
Artist’s impression of the new Williams Bridge (photo: Canal & River Trust/Arcadis)
Many readers of this message will live a distance from the Montgomery Canal in Shropshire and Wales, but equally we hope and believe that many of you will have a soft spot for this restoration, perhaps knowing of the ‘Big Dig’ in Welshpool in 1969 and the restoration of Frankton Locks in the 1980s, as well as more recent restoration milestones.
We’re now asking for your help to improve the chances of securing planning permission for the replacement of a causeway with a road bridge that will allow boats to pass underneath.
As part of the Levelling Up Project works on the Montgomery Canal in Powys, Canal & River Trust (CRT) has recently submitted a planning application to build a new bridge over the canal at the site of Williams Bridge, close to the Vyrnwy Aqueduct in north Powys.
Members with long memories may remember that the old bridge was demolished in 1980 when the existing causeway was put across the canal – despite vigorous protests, including a visit by the then Prince of Wales. Now, at last, a new bridge is to be built – this time, a vertical lift bridge in order to cope with practical construction and highways matters. Widespread support for this planning application will increase the chances of it being approved.
You can make a submission online in support of this planning application as follows:
- Click here to go to the “Make a comment” page for the above planning application on the Powys County Council website.
- Enter your contact details.
- Specify an appropriate “Commenter Type”.
- Select the “Support” stance.
- Ignore the “Reasons for Comment” section as this relates to objections.
- In the “Your Comment” section, put your own reasons for supporting the planning application.
- Click on “Submit”.
- Or if you prefer, you can write to Planning Services, Powys County Hall, Spa Road East, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5LG quoting planning application number of 25/0544/FUL.
Your own reasons for supporting the planning application could be:
- Restoring the canal is good for the local community and rebuilding of the bridge is part of the restoration strategy.
- This application complements the recent planning permissions given for the new Carreghofa Lane Bridge and the Wern Pond Nature Reserve.
- Restoration (of which this bridge rebuilding is part) will help improve the local economy and add to peoples’ well-being.
- Restoration will enhance the built and natural heritage of the canal and its corridor.
Restoration of the Canal is in accordance with the Council’s Local Development Plan (paragraph TD3). - You may see reference to comments needing to be made by a certain date. However, these can be ignored as all comments will be considered up to the time the Planning Committee meets. However, the sooner, the better is a good maxim!
If you live outside Powys, you can still give your opinion and you could emphasise that this is a matter of more than local interest; in fact, it is of national interest.
As part of the same Levelling Up Project, last year CRT submitted a planning application to create Carreghofa Lane Bridge as a replacement for Walls Bridge, on the outskirts of Llanymynech. We asked local members to support this planning application; many did, and it was approved.
We also asked for support for a CRT planning application to create a nature reserve by the canal at Wern; again, many did and again it was approved.
In both these cases, construction works are expected to start soon and be finished by the end of the year.
Coupled with the rebuilding of Schoolhouse Bridge in Shropshire, once Carreghofa Lane Bridge and Williams Bridge have been built, three of the five public highway obstructions between Crickheath and Welshpool will have been dealt with. Who would have thought that only four years ago?!
Thank you for your support.
Best wishes,
Michael Haig
Chair
IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch
Please email membership@waterways.org.uk with any change to your email address or if you do not wish to continue receiving such information by email.