LLANDUDNO is at ‘high risk’ of flooding in the next 50 years unless work is taken to strengthen sea defences, new research shows.

It is believed that sea level rises could hit parts of the town in the future unless flood defence works are implemented.

Last week, residents in Llandudno met to discuss plans as part of the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP). The multi agency backed scheme outlines measures to tackle the threat of sea level rise and assess the risks of sea erosion to the coastline.

Dyfed Rowlands, Conwy County Council’s environment manager said: “The flood risk doesn’t look too bad at the moment but in the future, certainly with the impact of climate change and sea levels rising we should be thinking what should be done for the future,” he said. (more…)

It’s time to wade back into the troubled waters of flood and coastal defence funding in England, because the government unveiled a new plan on Monday. Here’s the headline from the Defra press release:

More flood and coastal defence schemes to go ahead under new funding system

Sounds good right? As regular visitors will know, I have been angered by the glaring contradiction between ministers saying that the risk of flooding is rising due to climate change, and then cutting year-on-year funding by over 25%. Over 1000 schemes that were in line for funding no longer have it.

Of the new arrangement, environment minister Richard Benyon said: “This new funding system means more flood defence schemes will benefit from government money so we can protect more people and properties.” So the new funding system means more government money, you’re thinking. You’re wrong. There is no new money to alleviate the risks of floods devastating people’s homes and businesses. (more…)

From a press release on the DEFRA website:

More flood and coastal erosion defence projects across England will receive government money each year under a new funding system announced today.

The new system provides money based on the benefits each project delivers to homes, businesses, agricultural land and infrastructure. Many schemes will still receive full Government funding, whilst others will qualify for a contribution to the final cost.  In many cases this government contribution will be worth 80 to 90 per cent of the full scheme cost.

This will replace the current model where schemes applying for money are typically either funded in full by Government or not at all. (more…)

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mrs Caroline Spelman MP) annonced in a written statement that she was laying before Parliament a first “National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England” and statutory guidance on “Co-operation and requesting information in flood and coastal erosion risk management”. Both documents are being presented in accordance with section 7 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and stem from Sir Michael Pitt’s review of the widespread flooding in 2007, and are due to be be issued on 18 July unless either House resolves that they should not be issued. (more…)

A £6m project to move sand on to Lincolnshire’s beaches to help prevent flooding and coastal erosion is set to start.

The “beach nourishment” campaign sees more than 141,000 tonnes of sand pumped from off-shore sites onto 20km (12.4 miles) of beach.

The scheme, carried out by the Environment Agency, protects 30,000 properties from the risk of flooding. (more…)

Anglesey residents are being asked to review and comment on a final draft plan to manage the risk from coastal erosion and flooding.

The new West of Wales Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) will define how our coastal defences are managed in the future. It looks ahead for 100 years, addressing the present problems and also the need to plan for increasing uncertainty in future due to climate change, coastal erosion and pressure for change at the shoreline.

It has been developed on behalf of the West Wales SMP Partnership by specialist coastal consultants Royal Haskoning. The draft Shoreline Management Plan documents will be presented at a public exhibition at the Council Chambers, Llangefni on 17th May between 3pm-8pm, where project officers and representatives from the Consultants will be on hand to answer any questions. (more…)

The last resident of Happisburgh’s doomed Beach Road says she has no regrets about her decision to stay until the sea finally forces her out of her cliff-top bungalow.

Bryony Nierop-Reading has only her cats, stunning sea views and nearby sand martins for company after declining to join neighbours who have sold up to North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) and moved away from the fast-eroding coastline.

Mrs Nierop-Reading, 66, says she loves living just 45ft from the cliff edge where she can enjoy the sea in all its moods – but she is “seriously worried” that NNDC has a “sub-agenda” to remove or rearrange existing sea defences, allowing wave action to erode the Beach Road coastline unchecked.

Beach clearance and demolition of the vacant homes around Mrs Nierop-Reading, is due to begin shortly as the council seeks to landscape the blighted area for public recreational use. (more…)