Work to bolster sea defences has started

WORK on storm-damaged Conwy sea defences have begun this week.

Many parts of North Wales were battered by bad weather in the winter of 2013-2014.

Now Conwy County Borough Council are straightening a rocky barrier at Ty Crwn in Pensarn over a four-week period from June 29 before any more gales strike the area.

The council said work will “reduce the risk of the sea defence wall being undermined”, and protect homes from coastal flooding.

Barry Griffiths, chief flood warden for the Kinmel Bay area, welcomed the work, but added: “We’re not out of the woods yet”

He said: “The coastal flood defences work to be undertaken in Pensarn are part of a range of measures following the 20132014 storm surges and are to be conditionally welcomed as they will help flood prevention in many cases.

“But the range of measures should not be assumed to be a final solution to flooding along the North Wales coast.

Mr Griffiths pointed out Natural Resources Wales warns there could be future flooding.

He said: “We know that when high tide, strong on-shore wind and low atmospheric pressure combines as was the case on December 5, 2013, then our lowlying communities are at risk.”

Residents and officials discussed flood risks and climate change at the recent Irish Sea 2050 conference in Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay.

Mr Griffiths called for a “longer-term solution”, such as a tidal lagoon.

The company Tidal Lagoon Power Ltd want to build six power-generating lagoons in the UK, including one at Colwyn Bay.

Mr Griffiths said: “It would combine coastal protection with renewable tidal energy and unlock economic opportuni- ties.”

During the Pensarn work, the council said lorries will have to use Sea Road to get to a site entrance behind Pensarn railway station.

A temporary holding area will be created for the imported beach material beside the sta- tion. The material will then be transported by dumper truck vehicles along the foreshore to the works area.

A council spokesman urged the public to be vigilant due to the lorries and apologised for any inconvenience.

Meanwhile, on nearby Lland- dulas Beach, work is ongoing to rebuild a rock barrier and timber wall along a 285-metre strip.

And other work at Llanddulas tip to repair and reinforce the damaged coastal defences on a 810-metre strip began on June 10.