8. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on Welsh Government discussions with Natural Resources Wales about the Roath flood scheme development in Cardiff? OAQ51572

Natural Resources Wales are responsible for the scheme. I met with their officials and elected representatives, including yourself, on 9 January to further discuss this scheme and the concerns of residents. During the meeting, NRW explained the reasons for the works and the options they had considered to alleviate flood risk.

Yes, and thanks for arranging that meeting. I think that was a useful clear-the-air meeting, as far as it went. The problem is, by that point, we already had many local residents protesting against the felling of trees by climbing up the trees and doing other activities on site. So, clearly, something did go wrong with the consultation. Could you now work with NRW to assess exactly what did go wrong and hopefully avoid this kind of repercussion in future schemes?

Thank you for your question and your interest in this. Roath Brook Gardens and Roath Mill Gardens are the final phase of the flood alleviation works, and this process has been under way for five years. We've gone through planning and consultation and it's now at the implementation stage. Residents' concerns were raised very late in the process and at this final implementation stage. I called for a meeting with NRW at the earliest opportunity, in post, in order to understand the work and its impact on the parks. I understand that concerns had not been flagged up with the department prior to my coming into post.

The consultation has been ongoing during this time and I'm happy to write to the Member, and other Members with an interest, with a full list of the public consultation, but throughout the scheme's planning and construction phases, NRW have consulted with the local community, Cardiff council and stakeholders, and they confirm that this has included local AMs, MPs and councillors. I also understand that local councillors have been heavily involved though briefings, have attended most public meetings and have facilitated residents' discussions. I know that NRW have tried to work constructively throughout the scheme to improve the scheme, to try and reflect residents' views, and I know that that is ongoing, as NRW are meeting with residents as we speak to see if further resolution can be sought.FootnoteLink

Information further to Plenary

Can I also thank you for the meeting you arranged last week with interested Members and NRW? It's important that we do advance in scientific and technical evidence. I think one of the things that may have assuaged the protesters would have been if we'd had an existing and more abundant tree canopy. It's a problem, then, when we do, unfortunately, have to see trees removed, either because they're diseased or would be, or as a result of the new course of a brook, for instance. So, could we just increase the amount of woodland we have in cities, please?

The Member makes a very important point, and I'm glad you were able to join us for that meeting last week. In this particular case, more trees are being replanted than are being felled. I recognise the strength of emotion and feeling that people have for their local parks and recreation places. I think, as part of our woodland creation strategy, we do, perhaps, need to look again at how we create urban centres and areas of parks, with canopy creation in mind as well.