The Environment Minister, Jane Davidson, has approved a Welsh Assembly Government grant of over £6.5 million towards the first phase of coastal protection works along the Borth to Ynyslas coastline. Work is expected to start on the project early in the new year.
The Council’s scheme, estimated to cost £12 million, has already been approved for £5.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund.
The existing coastal defences have come to the end of their life and approximately 330 properties in the area are at risk from flooding, including 40 commercial buildings, the Cambrian Coast Railway and the B4353.
Ceredigion County Council is promoting the proposed works to replace and strengthen defences at Borth and has applied to the Welsh Assembly Government for grant aid.
Commenting on the project the Minister said:
“One in six properties in Wales is currently at risk of flooding, with flooding estimated to cause in the region of £200 million of damage each year. We recognise that as the climate changes and sea level rises, flood and coastal risk is set to increase significantly over time and the Welsh Assembly Government is leading a major change in the way we manage flood and erosion risk to address this. We will have to adapt to increased flood risk by employing a wide range of measures such as improving warnings, emergency response and community resilience.
“Defences to protect against flooding and erosion will continue to play an important part in managing the risks which is why I was delighted to approve this grant money to secure the start of this major coastal defence scheme on the west coast of Wales. I am particularly pleased that the project includes development of a community risk management plan. This will assess the residual risks at Borth and engage with the local community to see how these risks can be managed so that sensible plans can be made for the future.
“The Assembly Government is committed to supporting as many flood management schemes across Wales as possible and our current programme indicates that over 2,000 properties will benefit from improved protection in 2010 /11.”
