Montgomery Canal Conservation Management Strategy (1.2MB PDF)

6.5 WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
6.5.1 Water
A) The Partnership will pursue a cross agency approach to water management.
The Environment Agency have a lead role in water management, but significant input is also required through
management of, for example, minor inflows from land drainage. British Waterways, the Countryside Council for Wales,
English Nature and the local planning authorities all have roles to play.
B) Water abstraction to support the canal will be reviewed, in order to ensure supplies consistent with environmental
considerations and potential navigation levels.
C) Points and lengths of leakage along the canal will be identified and minimised.
D) Optimum water quality will be pursued through:
• Best practice on the canal
• Pro-active encouragement of adjacent landowners and users
• Back up of enforcement action through the legislative framework.
Water quality is being addressed through the Water Framework Directive, under the umbrella of the Environment Agency.
However, in the context of the Montgomery Canal, the site’s designation as a SSSI and SAC will impose more locally
specific and higher standards, than is required by the directive.
6.5.2 Other Environmental Protection
The restoration proposals involve significant amounts of civil engineering and construction work, as well as other activities
such as dredging, which all have the potential for environmental harm outside the topics already considered above
through:
• Pollution of water, air and soil
• Interrupting water flows or placing additional demands on water resources
• Generating waste
• Use of finite resources
• Noise
• Traffic
There is a well-established legislative framework to protect the environment, but legislation has traditionally been aimed at
establishing deterrents through prosecution and setting minimum standards. Newer legislation often takes the approach
of enforcing best practice.
Environmental protection is a key indicator for sustainability and with the significant value of the canal corridor
environment there are obvious environmental benefits from following best practice rather than the minimum statutory
requirements.
Application of best practices also make good economic and social sense: it is far better and cheaper to prevent
environmental harm, rather than to clean up afterwards.
E) Best practices for environmental protection will be applied to all parts of the restoration.
F) Renewable and sustainable supplies will be sourced and utilised when available.
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