Plaid Cymru calls for more investment in flood prevention

Plaid Cymru has called for more investment in flood prevention following “devastating” flooding.

Homes were evacuated as 27 flood warnings were issued for Wales over the weekend, and the party’s leader Adam Price has responded by saying that the “severity and frequency” of flooding events “should convince us all that flooding needs to become a strategic national priority.”

He added that “we are yet to see sufficient funding and investment in flood prevention” from the Welsh Government, a year on from the “destruction wreaked upon our communities” by Storm Dennis.

Natural Resource Wales have warned the public to keep away from floodwater as parts of the mid and west of the country were hit by heavy rain.

The Welsh Government said it has invested more than £390m to manage flood risk in the past five years.

Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price and Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr said: “It is devastating to see towns and villages across Wales hit once again by severe flooding with homes and businesses under water.

“I pay tribute to the selfless work of our emergency workers who are out now in adverse weather clearing roads and keeping people safe.

“My heart goes out to those who have been impacted by this weekend’s flooding and I urge you to contact your local Plaid Cymru office – we are here to help.”

‘Destruction’ 

He added: “A year on since the destruction wreaked upon our communities by Storm Dennis, we are yet to see sufficient funding and investment in flood prevention from Welsh Government.

“We urgently need a commitment of extra resources, personnel, and financial aid to the communities most impacted by the floods. Lessons need to be learnt – and quick – to protect our communities from future flooding.”

Janet Finch-Saunders MS, the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy and the Shadow Minister for Environment, has written to the Welsh Government to urge officials to “look favourably on the Upper Conwy project’s application for £800,000.”

“Sadly, there is no simple solution to the flooding crisis in the Conwy Valley. It is why I have been working with stakeholders to instigate a combination of measures, that encompass natural and man-made management solutions.

“Over the past year, I have been working with RWE Innogy to see if measures can be implemented to reduce the flood spill from Llyn Eigiau, and as such hold more water in the mountains during storm events. Recent modelling has highlighted an efficient solution which I’m pleased is being explored further.

“Likewise, I am in continued communication with RWE and Welsh Water about Ffynnon Llugwy Reservoir. It is my understanding that during wet periods rain water significantly exceeds demand and the reservoir spills, so I am pushing for similar efficient measures to address this.

The Welsh Government had previously given “indicative approval” to the Upper Conwy project. The purpose of the project is to assist in the storage of flood waters in the upland by slowing water flows through the restoration of moors, and it includes ditch blocking and river restoration.

The cooperative project is spearheaded by Natural Resources Wales and the National Trust, with an agency official seconded to the Trust to push the work forward.