Residents living in and around Penallt are to have their water quality improved with a new investment project by Welsh Water, secured by the lobbying of local residents and their councillors Richard John and Jayne McKenna.

The councillors for Mitchel Troy and Trellech organised a public meeting at Pelham Hall last October so residents could press Welsh Water for solutions to their frequent poor water quality issues.

Residents in Upper Ferry Road, Birches Road and Lone Lane have been experiencing murky, cloudy and even brown water and have been pushing Welsh Water to extend the recent pipe upgrade.

In 2024 and 2025 Welsh Water upgraded much of the pipework in and around Monmouth but many residents in the lanes around Penallt continued to be serviced by old iron pipes.

Welsh Water has now agreed to replace all the existing unlined cast iron water mains in Penallt which equates to 8km of the water network, with construction work beginning before the end of 2026.

Cllr Richard John said, “We are delighted that Welsh Water has agreed to replace all the old cast iron pipework in and around Penallt, about eight kilometres in total and that this work will begin later this year.

“Residents around Penallt have been putting up with poor water quality for too long. Often this has been cloudy, discoloured or in some instances the colour of gravy.

“We were grateful to senior Welsh Water bosses for attending a public meeting last October to hear first hand about the issues residents were facing.”

Cllr Jayne McKenna said, “We are really grateful to Welsh Water bosses for listening to the case we made for investment in the Penallt area.

“This investment to renew the pipework in the area is very welcome and will ensure that everyone in Penallt and Tregagle can access good quality water.”