A consent will be required for activities on an ordinary watercourse that’s likely to stop or limit the quantity of water stored within a watercourse, including culverting, bridges, weirs etc.
This would therefore mean that any excavation for land drainage, culvert or other passage for water in, into or out of any watercourse or in or through any bank of any watercourse would need consent.
Consent will be required under the above legislation for both permanent and temporary works. Even if you have planning permission or any other development permissions, you will still require consent from us to work on ordinary watercourses.
Consent
An authorised consent from us for any such changes to the watercourse is important, as any changes have the potential to increase flood risk to people and property, either those upstream or downstream and often unconnected to the works in question.
You are encouraged to contact us in advance of applying for consent so that we can discuss your requirements, provide advice and ensure that your application is completed correctly. Before completing your application please review the application guidance notes about ordinary watercourse land drainage consents.
Upon receipt of an application, there is a time limit of two months to grant or refuse consent. The application isn’t approved until you receive formal consent.
Contact us by email at FCRMU@gwynedd.llyw.cymru
Terms and conditions
You are responsible for ensuring any works are carried out in accordance with the consent and any other associated legislation. You must ensure the contractors carrying out the works are fully aware of the consent and its conditions.
Apply for ordinary watercourse land drainage consent by downloading and completing an ordinary watercourse land drainage consent application form.
You can email your completed applications form to FCRMU@gwynedd.llyw.cymru or post to:
Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management
Gwynedd Council
Shirehall Street
Caernarfon
Gwynedd
LL55 1SH
Enforcement action against unconsented works
In the case of works undertaken without consent, and where we deem that consent would have been required, works cannot be retrospectively consented.
Under section 24 of the Act enforcement action may be taken where damaging or potentially damaging works on ordinary watercourses have been undertaken without the necessary consent. Enforcement action may also be taken where consented works have been undertaken in a manner contravening the consent. Where such works have been carried out enforcement powers are available to the LLFA, which include:
- an advice letter to the individual reminding them of the requirements of their consent
- a letter to warn the individual that their actions are in breach of the consenting legislation
- a notice enforcing remedial action or prohibiting an activity from being carried out
- direct remedial action, plus a recharge or the costs of such actions and possible prosecution