Written - Launch of consultation on a National Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management in Wales

Today I am launching my consultation on the content of a National Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management in Wales.

Already one in six properties in Wales are at risk of flooding and Climate Change predictions suggest that changes in rain fall patterns and rising sea levels will increase these risks in the future.  With increasing risks of surface water flooding in particular, the construction of traditional defences will no longer be enough to protect us from the consequences of flooding and we must look at other approaches to manage the risks we face.

The National Strategy will set out the Welsh Assembly Government’s objectives for managing flood and coastal erosion risk in Wales in the coming years. 

This is one of the central requirements of the Strategy as set out in Section 8 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, and within the consultation we are seeking views on four proposed objectives:

• reducing the impacts on individuals, communities and businesses from flooding and coastal erosion;
• raising awareness of and engaging people in the response to flood and coastal erosion risk;
• providing an effective and sustained response to flood and coastal erosion events;
• prioritising investment in the most at risk communities.

Under each of these objectives are a series of actions for the Welsh Assembly Government and the Risk Management Authorities in Wales, including the Environment Agency, the local authorities, the Internal Drainage Boards and the Water Companies.

The consultation also recognises that in the current economic climate we will need to carefully consider how and where we invest in future.  Questions are posed as to how we should prioritise Welsh Assembly Government investment and whether we should be seeking contributions from those who benefit from risk management measures. 

We will be consulting from 16 July to 8 October and I would encourage everyone to take the opportunity to consider the objectives and comment on them.