Rebecca with members of the Action Group – Peter Cole, Sylvia Stephenson and Beverley Wilkins
Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales has met with the Fairbourne Facing Change Community Action Group (FFC) to discuss concerns about the way in which recent publicity relating to the West of Wales Shoreline Management Plan 2 (SMP2) has affected the community.
Mrs Evans said: “It was important for me to sit down with residents to listen to their concerns, and to see for myself the particular areas of coastline which are expected to be affected by rising tides in the coming decades.
“It is expected that it may be 40-60 years before the main area of shoreline that is proving cause for concern for residents and business owners becomes affected.
“However, I heard how recent reporting has resulted in concern, anxiety, and panic for the community, and that some people had got the incorrect impression that a ‘managed retreat’ would take place in the next decade. I heard how there has already been a significant impact on the community – such as the reduction in the value of house prices, difficulty in getting a mortgage and cancellation of home improvements and building works. This obviously has a knock-on affect on local businesses.”
The Shoreline Management Plan provides the strategic planning framework for coastal risk management and is essential for managing the shoreline. Although the SMP2 has been adopted by Gwynedd Council this ’live’ document still requires the approval of the Welsh Government. The plan is expected to be a living document which can be changed as the need arises and provides a framework for community engagement and involvement.
Mrs Evans has agreed to make representations to the Welsh Government on behalf of the community action group.
