6. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on Welsh Government investment in coastal defences and flood alleviation schemes in the Vale of Glamorgan? OAQ52132

Over the life of this Government, we have invested over £5.7 million in flood and coastal works in the Vale of Glamorgan. In addition, over £4.5 million has been allocated in this year's programme to complete works at Boverton and Coldbrook and progress the Llanmaes, Cadoxton and Corntown schemes.

Thank you, Minister. It is important to acknowledge the Welsh Government funding—substantial Welsh Government funding—for vital flood defences in Boverton and Llantwit Major. Following flooding of this community as recently as 2016, affecting homes and businesses, can you confirm the timelines for the urgent works to be carried out in Llanmaes village and Cadoxton in Barry, funded by the Welsh Government and managed by the Vale of Glamorgan Council?

I thank the Member for her follow-up question. In terms of the Llanmaes flood alleviation scheme, design work is continuing and expected to be completed later this year, with construction to commence shortly after. Improvements to drainage in the village to increase capacity and a series of small flood storage areas above the village—. Property-level protection is offered to properties at risk, and nine have taken up this offer, and that will be installed shortly. A large flood storage area will also be constructed downstream of the village of Cadoxton. So, there are two schemes in Cadoxton: the tidal work scheme and the flood alleviation scheme. The tidal work scheme is expected to be complete by the end of the year, and in the flood alleviation scheme, Natural Resources Wales are currently investigating several options, which have been assessed to reduce flood risk to properties in the village of Dinas Powys both now and in the future. This could include upstream storage, natural flood management and the installation of floodwalls and relief culverts in the town. But I’m happy to write to the Member with further details if she so wishes.FootnoteLink

Information further to Plenary

Minister, obviously bringing together flood alleviation schemes relies on agencies working very closely together—local authorities and NRW, in particular, who are, obviously, the advisers on many of these projects. You’ll be aware that staff surveys have indicated a certain amount of unrest in NRW. Since you've become Minister, what is your assessment of the ability of NRW to work with partners in the Vale of Glamorgan to develop flood alleviation schemes that meet the community's concerns that have been outstanding for some considerable time?

I thank the Member for his question. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the staff survey; that’s a matter for NRW. We've had a new chief executive who has come into place recently, and I've had regular meetings with NRW. In terms of working with the local community and stakeholders, I have had meetings previously with NRW when we have discussed communication and the need to engage and work closely within communities and communicate, particularly on issues around flood risk, which can be quite a bit complicated, to get that message across, and on how things are evidenced and analysed. So, I encourage NRW to maintain that effective and ongoing engagement with the local community, and it's something that is an outstanding item in terms of my regular meetings with both the chief executive and the chair of NRW.