Last chance to have your say about Cyngor Gwynedd's Flood Strategy

The public has less than one week left to opinion on a draft of the Gwynedd Flood Strategy.

Cyngor Gwynedd is currently holding a public consultation to help ensure the county is in a strong position to deal with flooding situations that are likely to arise in the future.

The consultation closes at midnight on Sunday, 5 May.

The Council will consider responses from the public and from key partners before agreeing on a final Flood Strategy.

Gwynedd – like other areas of Wales – is likely to see more flooding over the next few years as climate change causes more extreme weather events, rising sea levels and erosion along our coasts.

The objectives of the Strategy are:

• reducing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion risk to Gwynedd residents
• developing further understanding of the flood risk to Gwynedd and the impacts of climate change
• working with partners to ensure appropriate and sustainable development in Gwynedd
• raising awareness of local flood and coastal erosion risk
• working with our partners to respond jointly to flooding and coastal erosion.

Councillor Berwyn Parry Jones, Cyngor Gwynedd's Cabinet Member for the Gwynedd Consultancy Service, said: “It's important that local people, communities and organisations have the opportunity to give their views on our draft strategy by reading the report and completing the questionnaire. If you haven’t already had a chance to fill in the survey, I would remind you that you have until Sunday night to finish it.

"Unfortunately, we are seeing more incidents of flooding in all parts of the country. While we as a local authority cannot prevent prolonged periods of wet weather – as we’ve seen here in Wales this winter – but we can prepare our communities to deal with the impacts. ⁠

⁠"Flooding is not just a problem for seaside towns and villages. For example, when rivers break their banks key roads may close or damage may be caused to businesses and service we all depend upon.⁠

"Managing flood risk and coastal erosion is about much more than building defences. It is essential that we encourage wider resilience, undertake prevention work and raise awareness of risk.”

⁠Members of the public can take part in the consultation:  

• Online – visit Cyngor Gwynedd’s website: www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/HaveYourSay and select 'Consultations and Surveys'.
• Paper copies – documents are available from all libraries in Gwynedd and from the three Siop Gwynedd offices(Caernarfon, Dolgellau and Pwllheli). To receive a copy by post or in another language or format, please contact ygc@gwynedd.gov.cymru or call 01286 679426.

This consultation refers only to the county-wide strategy. To report flooding issues in specific areas of Gwynedd please contact the Council via the website www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/floods