Flood Risk Management

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:34 pm on 3 February 2021.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 1:34, 3 February 2021

Well, Welsh Government has made significant funding available this term. We've already met the commitment we did make at the beginning of this term of Government to invest in our flood defences, with over £390 million going into our flood and coastal erosion risk management over our two programmes. And I think it's fair to say that if it wasn't for that investment by the Welsh Government, the situation would be much worse. We've faced some significant flood events over the last year, which Members will be aware of. It's horrific when your home is flooded, and I send my sincere sympathy to your constituents who have been affected in this way. You'll be aware that following any flood event, there has to be an investigation by the risk management authority. In this case it would be Denbighshire County Council, and they will have to bring forward section 19 reports at the opportune moment. I'm not aware of the situation you refer to. So, I don't know whether it was NRW as the risk management authority or if, indeed, it was the local authority, but I would expect that to come out in the report.

There is investment in the Ruthin area, and I'm aware of the Graigfechan business justification case, which we've given funding for, the Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd design work, and the River Clwyd catchment natural flood management, which we've given £1 million for. If anything did come out in that investigation, and I've already asked all risk management authorities to look at what further needs to be done to defences, then they can, of course, come forward and apply for funding. Just last year, I provided 100 per cent grant funding for emergency repairs to damaged flood assets across Wales, and I think that totalled about £4.6 million.