Questions to the Minister for Natural Resources

Janet Finch-Saunders – Cultural Heritage and Flooding

7. Will the Minister make a statement on flooding issues in north Wales? OAQ(4)0428(NR)

(N.B. Daily Post article on this exchange here.)

Carl Sargeant

Flood risk issues and potential schemes across all of Wales are raised with Welsh Government through the risk management authorities. Over this Government term, we will invest over £285 million in flood and coastal risk management, including over £77 million in north Wales.

Janet Finch-Saunders

Thank you, Minister. I obviously welcome the £5 million extra that you announced yesterday. But, in Aberconwy, we see many repairs that are still required, and, of course, I’m including the grade I listed Gwydir castle, including its very rare and magnificent graded gardens, severely flooded over this winter on 12 separate occasions.

Now, Minister, this is a fundamental part of our historical heritage in north Wales, and the owners have actually lovingly restored this castle back with all of its original features. Minister, you know I’ve raised this with you outside this Chamber and I’ve not been too impressed with the lack of interest, shall we say, that you’ve afforded to this building. Minister, will you work with the owners, will you work with Natural Resources Wales, and will you work to ensure that we actually avoid flooding issues and the problem for this particular building, but, more importantly, help them to actually make some vital repairs that are now needed?

Carl Sargeant

I thank the Member for her question. Again, another gift from the opposition parties. My priority is protecting people, not castles, in this. The fact of the matter is, in Dafydd Elis-Thomas’s constituency, 300 people—300 properties—we protected in the Christmas period, and the Member opposite wants to protect gardens in a castle. Let’s get our priorities right. This is about making sure we look after people across Wales, not castles, like that Member wishes to do.