SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has called for the Welsh Government to do more to co-ordinate flood concerns.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands, asked for a statement from the Trefnydd, Jane Hutt, on Welsh Government plans to streamline flood resilience and flood defence investment and oversight.
He said: “It struck me that at a meeting with the Broughton and Bretton flood group, who’ve experienced significant amounts of regular flooding in that area in recent years, that there are various authorities, such as Welsh Water, Natural Resources Wales, the local authorities, as well as the work of the residents themselves, often scrambling between themselves to deal with immediate flooding, but also putting together plans and strategies for the future, as well.
“Local residents in Bretton and Broughton had done a phenomenal job of bringing those organisations together and those relevant authorities, but it strikes me that it could be done much more efficiently as many of them are chasing after similar funding pots, and are at risk sometimes of blaming each other for issues that arise.
“I think it would be much better for residents across Wales if there was a more streamlined approach to flood resilience and flood defence investment and oversight, and I’d be grateful if you’re able to commit to a statement from the Welsh Government explaining how it would seek to make that whole process much better for residents here in Wales.”
The Trefnydd said they did have that streamlined approach in terms of moving forward and responding to flood events and plans for flood alleviation.
Mr Rowlands added: “I still remain extremely concerned for residents in parts of Flintshire and Wrexham, in particular, where time and time again residents are having problems when there is heavy rain.
“There are many areas in my region of North Wales where flooding occurs on a regular basis, and I do not feel enough is being done to tackle the issue. It is about time Welsh Government considered a national approach to these problems.”