Commenting on the report National Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management, the Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Rural Affairs – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – said:

“We have waited years for this document, and what a disappointment it is.

“There are as many as six different maps and four plans noted in the strategy. They need to be streamlined. 

“The section on community resilience and behaviours is insulting. It notes that there is a need for closer community cooperation, yet no mention of listening to calls for independent reviews, yet people in parts of Wales have been ignored for years.

“I am also concerned that the strategy places responsibility on property owners to protect their homes during floods. There should be a note requiring the creation of community sandbag points, and urgent clarity if highstreets will have the same level of funding priority as homes.

“Shockingly, measures 20 and 21 make no reference to setting a deadline to s. 19 investigation reports. Storm Ciara hit Wales in February, yet eight months later s.19 reports have not been made public. There needs to be a statutory deadline and the removal of the ridiculous indication that s.19 reports should only be undertaken where 20 or more homes in one area experience flooding.

“Finally, I am concerned that, in setting to bring clarity around the roles and responsibilities of bodies responsible for responding to flood and coastal erosion, the Welsh Labour-led Government has unfairly sought to place the onus on local authority response, enabling Natural Resources Wales to take a further hands-off approach.”

The report can be read here.

ENDS