‘No simple fix for flooding’
Warning after top-level talks
CARMARTHENSHIRE MPS have met with council leaders and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) over the future of the town’s flood defences – but there are no easy solutions, experts warn.
The River Towy has flooded three times in the past 12 months, causing misery for businesses and sparking calls for a permanent flood defence solution to be put in place.
Huwel Manley of Natural Resources Wales said: “While we will investigate possible options and review past proposals for the quayside, history tells us there are no easy solutions.”
CARMARTHENSHIRE MPS have met with council leaders and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) over the future of the town’s flood defences but there are no easy solutions experts warn.
The River Towy has flooded three times in the past 12 months, causing misery for businesses and sparking calls for a permanent flood defence solution to be put in place.
Last month floods hit the town again during Storm Christoph, leaving little respite for those firms along The Quay and Pensarn area.
Now Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart and Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards have tabled talks.
The pair met via webcam with the NRW, Carmarthenshire Council chiefs and businesses.
Also present was Carmarthen mayor, councillor Gareth John, who said in the days following the January floods that businesses cannot continue to suffer the current uncertainty as premises are flooded on a regular basis with no apparent hope of a resolution.
Simon Hart, who is also Secretary of State for Wales, said following the meeting: “We aimed to come up with a blueprint to try to limit flooding in the future.
“We all agree that flooding is a result of climate change and its impact on flood management, and that solving this will take considerable research and substantial sums of money.
“However, there are also shorter-term solutions that could make a practical difference and we are now exploring these.”
They include reviewing whether the flood schemes in place are effective and revisiting the existing wall at the Quay and whether there should be a cantilever wall in the gap, along with considering if targeted dredging is feasible and what the ecological impacts might be.
Another idea that was raised by former town mayor Alun Lenny last month was also discussed – and that is to look at the possibility of ‘demountable defences’ around The Quay, meaning a flood defence can be brought in when needed and then removed again.
“Residents and traders in Carmarthen have been putting up with this significant problem for a long time. I was pleased to help bring everyone together with a view to sorting out a long-term solution,” added Mr Hart.
Mr Edwards said: “The Quay in Carmarthen has suffered a number of times over recent years from flooding.
“From a policy level its vital we scope what options are available to alleviate flooding at this particular location and then put a plan in place.
“The amount of water coming down the Towy Valley during storms requires a holistic approach to flooding and will require significant investment.”
Huwel Manley, NRW operations manager for South West Wales, said: “The sustained period of heavy rainfall brought about by Storm Christoph in January impacted communities right across Wales and our thoughts are with those that are affected at this time.
“Storm Christoph was the latest in a series of large flood events to hit South Wales over the last two years, bringing significant impacts to parts of Carmarthenshire in particular.
“The River Towy in Carmarthen recorded its highest river levels since Storm Callum in October 2018.
“We work closely with Carmarthenshire Council and other partners before, during and after such weather events to reduce the risk of flooding to householders and businesses in the area where feasible.
“While we can sometimes take action to reduce the likelihood of flooding, we cannot control the weather.
“The scale and the challenge of climate change is substantial and increasing and we will have to manage expectations on how much flooding can realistically be prevented.
“Carmarthen town brings its unique challenges with the lower part of the town being built on a flood plain.
“While the areas around Pensarn are protected by existing flood defences, extending or constructing flood protection on other low areas of the town need to be modelled carefully to make sure that water displaced does not cause detriment in other areas.
“While we will investigate possible options and review past proposals for the quayside, history tells us there are no easy solutions.”
Cllr Hazel Evans, executive board member for environment at Carmarthenshire Council said: “We were pleased to take part in a constructive conversation about the flooding issues that have been faced by local businesses in Carmarthen.
“The proposal to review the options available to help mitigate the impact of river flooding is welcomed.
“We will be pleased to assist NRW, as the responsible body for main rivers such as the Towy, in undertaking these reviews to try and find a long term solution.
“In the meantime, we will continue to support businesses as far as possible with dealing with the impact of these flooding events.”