Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has called for assurances from the Welsh Government that the planned new flood defences in Towyn and Kinmel Bay are attractive.

Last year the Welsh Government announced it will provide £36million to Local Authorities and Natural Resources Wales to help them invest in new defences, maintenance works and natural flood management schemes,

£1.2 million has been awarded to Conwy County Borough Council for the design and construction of improvements to sea defences in the Towyn, Kinmel Bay and Llanddulas areas.

Whilst Darren is pleased that new defences are being installed, he is concerned that the proposals show they will not be as attractive as sea defences in other coastal resorts.

He has therefore called on the First Minister to provide assurances that the Welsh Government will now work with Conwy Council to ensure the flood defences are visually appealing.

Raising the matter in yesterday’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, he said:

“Many seaside resorts across north Wales are exposed to flood risk, including Towyn and Kinmel Bay in my own constituency.

“There are plans to improve the sea defences in Towyn and Kinmel Bay as part of the Coastal Risk Management Programme. But the proposals that have been developed by Conwy County Borough Council to date are unattractive in comparison to some of the schemes elsewhere in North Wales, including in Colwyn Bay and neighbouring Rhyl, and they just do not seem to reflect the important status of Towyn and Kinmel Bay to the visitor economy.

“First Minister, can I ask you what assurances can you provide to my constituents in terms of the ability of the Welsh Government to work now with Conwy County Borough Council to bring forward new coastal defence flood protection improvements in the Towyn and Kinmel Bay area that will not only improve flood protection but also enhance the coastline, improve access to our local beaches, and make these resorts more attractive for locals and visitors alike, so that they can achieve Blue flag status once the works are completed?”

Responding, the First Minister said:

“The money that is put aside for the Coastal Risk Management Programme has to focus on protecting communities and businesses, and so on, from coastal flooding, and it's not primarily there, therefore, to increase the attractiveness of areas, or to attract tourism, but, of course, those are really important considerations when these schemes are being designed.”

The First Minister told Darren that he would relay that point to the people responsible for overseeing the programmes.