6. What action is the Welsh Government taking to address flood risk in north Wales? OAQ51537

The Welsh Government’s flood and coastal risk management programmes are actively addressing risk across north Wales. The £5 million St Asaph scheme, protecting 548 properties, will complete shortly. In addition, we are investing over £7 million in over 30 flood schemes across north Wales.

One of the areas that has received significant investment in recent years, of course, is the bay of Colwyn, but there is one part of the bay of Colwyn that is particularly vulnerable to flooding, and experienced flooding very recently in Storm Eleanor, which hit north Wales just a few weeks ago when the promenade of Old Colwyn was flooded. This is a regular occurrence now, and I'm very concerned at the vulnerability of the defences in that area, which, of course, as you will know, Minister, protect the A55 and the north Wales railway. We need some leadership on this, and I believe that that leadership needs to come from the Welsh Government. I would be very grateful if you would join me in a visit to Old Colwyn to inspect those defences, and to bring together the various agencies and partners that will be required in order to upgrade the facilities and the defences there. 

Thank you for your question. You're right that the risk at Old Colwyn is to the infrastructure—rail and road—rather than to homes, and you'll be aware that officials have encouraged Conwy County Borough Council to seek appropriate partnership contributions from those stakeholders before seeking further grant funding, but Conwy borough council, I understand, are also planning to hold discussions with Welsh Water regarding Old Colwyn. And, in November, officials from the council met with Network Rail to develop a potential joint solution to coastal risk at Old Colwyn. I understand that those discussions were positive, but if the Member would like to write to me to invite me to visit, I'd be happy to consider that. 

I'm very willing to help the Minister to fill a day of visits in north Wales by asking her to visit Anglesey as well. We had floods in many parts of Anglesey before Christmas, and, of course, I have visited those communities from Dwyran to Lanfairpwll to Menai Bridge and Llangefni, and so forth.

I would like to mention the situation in Llangefni specifically. I, of course, have been discussing the situation there with Natural Resources Wales. It has become apparent that the Isle of Anglesey County Council asked NRW a few years ago to undertake flood prevention work on the Cefni river following floods, historic floods there, in the last few years. And it is clear that NRW hasn't been able to prioritise that work, which isn't especially complex work, but it is necessary. Could I have a commitment from you as a Minister that you will ensure that NRW will prioritise this work, because it's not a risk on paper, as we've seen in other parts of Wales, including Roath in Cardiff, that we have here, but a real risk that has been proven by evidence?

Thank you for your question.

I didn't catch the beginning of it. Was that an invitation to come and visit? I'm always happy to visit north Wales. I'm acutely aware of what happened in November, just before Christmas across Ynys Môn, and I know that Welsh Government officials have been in touch with local authorities and NRW, but if the Member would like to write to me on that, then I will then take it up for him.