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Ammanford’s £6M flood risk management scheme officially opened

A MULTI-MILLION pound flood risk management scheme designed to reduce the flood risk for over 380 properties in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, was officially opened on 12 September 2024.

First Minister Eluned Morgan MS and Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies MS visited the town to mark the completion of the project and met members of the community set to benefit from the £6 million project funded by the Welsh Government and delivered by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

Ammanford has experienced several flood events during the last 40 years, with past events between 1979 and 2009 causing significant damage to homes, roads, and railway lines.

Without NRW’s intervention, 223 properties (198 homes and 25 businesses) in the town would have remained at risk of flooding in an extreme flood event (1% annual chance), with road and rail infrastructure at risk of being severely affected. This figure would have increased to 386 properties over the next century when climate change impacts are taken into consideration.

Construction work on the Ammanford Flood Risk Management Scheme began in the summer of 2023, focussing on mitigating flood risk from the Rivers Loughor, Marlas and Lash.

The scheme incorporates a range of measures, including flood defence embankments and walls along the Rivers Loughor and Marlas, and a new earth embankment at Tir-y-Dail field to prevent floodwaters from reaching nearby homes, businesses and railways. Property level protection measures on Aberlash Road will be undertaken next year.

The scheme also reduces flood risk to Ammanford Railway Station, key transport routes, and Coleg Sir Gâr’s campus.

Additional benefits include environmental enhancements such as removing a significant barrier to fish passage at the Tir-y-Dail weir, creating habitat for otters, birds, and bats, and collaborating with Carmarthenshire County Council to plant native woodland and enhancing the recreational offer in the area.

Work completed in August 2024, reducing the flood risk to 349 residential, 37 non-residential properties and critical infrastructure in the town.

Prif Weinidog, Eluned Morgan said: “Ammanford has been affected by several floods in the last 40 years. It was really good to visit today to see how this work will benefit people living in the area.

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“It’s important we take action now to protect communities most at threat from the impact of climate change. Alongside Natural Resources Wales, we will continue to protect the most at risk communities from flooding across Wales.”

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies said: “We know the effects of climate change aren’t going away and I hope this scheme will provide the community of Ammanford with the much needed reassurance they need that they’ll be protected.

“Our flood and coastal funding has continued at record levels, and we have already protected over 8000 properties across Wales from at risk from flooding.”

Huwel Manley, Head of South West Operations for NRW, said: “In the face of the challenges posed by a changing climate and more frequent periods of extreme weather, we are working hard to help communities adapt to, and mitigate against, the increasing threat of flooding to homes and businesses across Wales.

“While we will never be able to stop all flooding, we have delivered a robust scheme in Ammanford which will significantly reduce that risk.

“The completion of this scheme marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to safeguard communities from the impacts of climate change, providing effective, long-term peace of mind for those who live and work here, and bringing wider ecological and community benefits, making Ammanford a more resilient and thriving place for its residents for years to come.”

NRW is the lead authority for managing flood risk from main rivers and the sea in Wales. It will be working closely with local authorities and other partners throughout the autumn and winter to help ensure communities are prepared for any extreme weather events ahead.

NRW is also encouraging people to take three simple steps to help prepare themselves for flooding:

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