SOME 30 trees uprooted by February’s storms fell across the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, blocking access to narrowboats on the water and cyclists and walkers on the towpath.

Two huge trees were still blocking the waterway at Llanellan three miles south of Abergavenny last week, while another has caused damage to the bed of the canal at Llangattock near Crickhowell.

Canal and River Trust spokesperson David Carsley posted last month: “Reports still coming in of trees down.

“It’s as we feared that two major storm systems have weakened many trees, some which have sadly lost the battle.

“Lots of debris in canal and on much of the towpath.

“Many broken branches are hanging dangerously in trees, be extra careful look up as well as at your feet.

“CRT Contractors and Volunteers will get to them as soon as possible.

“If you see our workforce along the canal please beware it means we’re clearing the danger to keep you safe.”

While most of the trees have been removed, the ones at Llanellan and Llangattock were still blocking the canal last week due to their size and the difficulty of reaching the remote sites.

The limb of the tree which fell at Llangattock, near Folly Bridge, damaged a culvert when it fell and smashed through the bed of the canal, delaying its reopening, although it was drained at the time as part of a winter maintenance programme.

Mark Evans, director of Wales and the South West at Canal & River Trust, said: “The recent storms caused havoc, blowing down many trees on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.

“I give my sincere apologies to boaters as the remaining handful of trees still to be cleared, together with the repairs now required to the canal bed and culvert, will mean a delay in reopening the canal from this week to early April.

“The trees that fell are unusually large and, coupled with the difficulty in accessing the remote sites, have proved a real challenge to our team and contractors, who are working hard to safely remove them.

“I know what an impact this will have on boaters, local businesses, visitors and the community, who will have been hoping to get moving and enjoy the canal after the long winter.

“I apologise for the delay and assure you we are making every effort to complete the works as quickly and safely as possible.”

Maintenance and upgrade work on the historic 220-year-old waterway is set to top £150,000 this year.

Originally constructed at the end of the 1700s, it was built for carrying coal, iron and limestone, with the present navigable section for boating now consisting of the Brecon & Abergavenny Canal from Brecon to Pontymoile, where it then joins the northern end of a short length of the Monmouthshire Canal down to Five Locks Basin.