Cardiff’s historic dock feeder canal has been officially unveiled to the public after months of work and decades underground, but the reaction has been far from positive. The waterway, hidden beneath Churchill Way since the 1950s, emerged as part of a broader regeneration project for the city centre, sparking disappointment and disapproval in the public who have taken to social media to voice their concerns.
The first section of the revitalised canal, now open from Queen Street to North Edward Street, is drawing criticism for its lacklustre appearance, with many expressing their discontent online. The canal’s transformation has been described as grubby, and the modern aesthetic clashes with the history that Churchill Way has and looks in Cardiff.
Originally supplying Bute Dock with water in the 1830s, the dock feeder played a crucial role in the city’s industrial past. However, the decision to uncover it has not resonated well with the public, as 69 concrete beams, weighing 7.5 tonnes each, were removed to reveal the canal. Social media users have voiced their disappointment, questioning the wisdom of the extensive work carried out over the months.
The council’s plans to extend the canal to Bridge Street, David Street, Charles Street, Tredegar Street, Guildford Crescent, and Barrack Lane have added to the discontent. Critics argue that the canal’s modernization appears out of touch with its historical significance, and the promised regeneration raises doubts among those who had hoped for a more authentic preservation of the city’s past.
Councillor Dan De’Ath’s vision of a new “vibrant city center district” with homes, hotels, offices, and retail has faced skepticism. The Dock Feeder bar, set to open in the so-called “Canal Quarter” in time for Christmas, has been met with mixed reactions, with some lamenting the loss of the canal’s authenticity in favor of trendy establishments.
Council leader Huw Thomas’s attempt to position the canal reopening as a remedy for the neglect of the eastern side of the city center has not appeased the disappointed public. As the first phase unfolds, the ambitious plans to continue the reopening further south face an uphill battle in winning over a populace seemingly unimpressed by the current state of the historic waterway.