RISES in sea levels will cause widespread disruption to many communities on the west Wales coast in the next few years.

Cardigan, St Dogmaels, Poppit and the Teifi estuary, Aberporth, Llangrannog and Newport could all be severely affected, a meeting in Cardigan was told.

Engineers for consultants carrying out the first series of local meetings for a new shoreline management plan for the region say climate change will cause sea level rises of between one and two meters in the next 50 years.

Greg Guthrie of Royal Haskoning consultants, a firm working on a 100-year shoreline plan for the whole of west Wales, told the Cardigan meeting: “There are places here living on the edge already and the coast is changing constantly. (more…)

A STRETCH of Welsh coastline could hold the key to the multi-billion-pound problem of coastal erosion.

Pioneering tests of the world’s first underwater coastal erosion monitoring system are to take place for the first time off Tenby’s South Beach next week.

It is believed the system, which employs a “grid” of electromagnetic sensors, could save billions of pounds and have a positive effect on millions of lives around the world by predicting exactly which parts of coastal areas will be eroded. (more…)

People are being asked for their input into developing plans for managing much of the north Wales coastline.

Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire councils are drawing up measures to help protect the area in the face of climate change and rising sea levels.

The councils say it is vital that the plans are realistic and achievable, if the coast is to be protected.

A meeting to discuss draft proposals is being held on Monday night in Abergele. (more…)

PEOPLE living in coastal communities must wake up to the threat of future flooding and think about moving to safer areas away from the sea.

That’s the message to residents along the North Wales seafront after a damning report said building flood walls was too expensive, and wouldn’t keep away rising tides long term.

An investigation by the Wales Audit Office found the Assembly Government was making “slow progress” to cope with the risks from the sea, due to a lack of capacity and leadership. (more…)

A “COMPLACENT” attitude to protecting Wales’ coastal defences has left them neglected at a time when the danger of flooding is expected to rise, a major report from the Wales Audit Office warns.

A report published today by In it the Auditor General claims that in the future it may not be possible to protect all communities from the threat of floods and residents may have to leave their homes.

Today’s report, Coastal Erosion and Tidal Flooding Risks in Wales, advises that severe storms will become more common as a result of climate change and sea levels are predicted to rise by around one metre over the next 100 years. (more…)

RESIDENTS have the opportunity to comment on how the land surrounding the Severn Estuary should be managed in years to come.

Interested parties will be able to put their views across at a consultation meeting which will take place at the Paget Rooms in Penarth on Wednesday, June 10, from 2pm to 6pm. (more…)

£17 million of European funding has been given to flood and coastal defence projects across Wales, Environment Minister Jane Davidson announced today (Wed 17th March).

The 12 schemes are the first in Wales to be given funding from a £30 million of European convergence support made available in December. It will be invested in measures to protect homes and businesses.

Areas that are to benefit include Tywyn, which receive £3.1 million, Borth £2.8 million, Rhyl £2.8 million and Duffryn Conwy £2.1 million. (more…)

Drs Richard Kingston and Adam Barker, University of Manchester’s School of Environment and Development, have launched a website where citizens and organisations can view maps showing how various coastal areas will likely be affected by rising seas. The maps also provide links to proposed policies for the North West England and North Wales Shoreline Management Plan as well as to a form for offering public comments on those proposals. (more…)

Experts at The University of Manchester are to produce a detailed picture of the public’s views on the uncertain future of a 250-mile-stretch of coastline.

Large parts of the coast between Anglesey and Carlisle are likely to be adversely affected by rising sea levels and erosion over the next hundred years.

The area is home to some of Britain’s most celebrated wildlife, important transport links, densely populated coastal towns and cities and the nuclear reactor at Sellafield.

Drs Richard Kingston and Adam Barker from the University’s School of Environment and Development have launched a website which allows the public to add their views to an online coastal map. (more…)

CAMPAIGNERS aiming to protect Gower beaches are vowing to step up their fight against a building firm’s sand dredging plan.

Llanelli Sand Dredging is still hoping to get permission from the Assembly to dredge material off the coast of Swansea Bay. Concerned residents and local groups, who insist the process damages the region’s beaches, said they were gearing up for the release of key data on the environment.

Their cause has won the backing of Tory AM Alun Cairns, who is calling on more people in South West Wales to get on board with the campaign. (more…)