I am very concerned about the Auditor General’s report on Coastal Erosion and Tidal Flooding Risks in Wales in which he concludes that current flood defences cannot keep pace with environmental change.
He states there is an imminent need to bolster protection for Aberaeron, Borth and Aberystwyth whilst sea defences at Tywyn are dilapidated and at Pwllheli, existing coastal defences may not remain serviceable for more than a decade.
Both Gwynedd and Ceredigion Councils are aware of the issue and support the need to take action but are being hampered by the lack of a national policy which the Assembly Government has failed to produce.
Gwynedd and Ceredigion are engaging with the non-statutory bodies that operate to help deliver effective coast protection but, being non-statutory, they are not funded by the Assembly Government. At a time when both local authorities are struggling to meet a difficult budget settlement they simply do not have the funds available for additional sea defences.
Until the Assembly Government gets a grip on this issue and delivers a properly funded All-Wales flood defence agency, these communities in Mid & West Wales will continue to be at risk."
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