WORK constructing improved coastal defences in Kinmel Bay is due to start later this year, Conwy County Borough Council has said.
Earlier this week, flooding during Storm Pierrick devastated the area, with residents in the Sandy Cove region having to be evacuated from their homes.
But as the council does not own the roads which were affected by the flooding on April 9, it is not responsible for maintaining them.
Kinmel Bay’s planned coastal defence works should reduce flooding risks to more than 2,000 homes, and is expected to be completed in late 2025 or 2026.
READ MORE:
PICTURES: Kinmel Bay flooding sees residents evacuated from homes
Kinmel Bay couple save families’ holidays after being evacuated
A resident of Kinmel Bay urged the council to take ownership of the Sandy Cove roads if possible, saying that if that transpired, “the works that are so desperately needed will be done”.
The resident added: “If we had a proper drainage system, the properties wouldn’t have flooded on Tuesday.”
The coastal defences work in Kinmel Bay will include improved rock armour defences, the raising of sea walls and improved beach access.
The council is also planning new parklets, street furniture, a toilet block, upgrades to the car park and ecological enhancements.
A council spokesperson said: “The roads at Sandy Cove are unadopted and therefore not maintained at public expense by the council.
“We developed and consulted on designs for improvements in 2022, with funding from Welsh Government, but this only covers the costs of the design.
“We would need further funding to progress the scheme to carry out any upgrading work.
“Construction work on the Kinmel Bay coastal defence scheme will start later in 2024.
“The finished scheme will reduce coastal flood risk to over 2,400 properties in extreme storm events, including those recently impacted in Kinmel Bay.
“We have appointed a contractor, who is currently working on design elements and stockpiling materials before on-site work begins.
“We expect this work to be completed in winter 2025/26.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here