The Flood Risk Management Wales committed met recently to discuss the growing flood-related challenges Wales faces due to climate change. Wales must be prepared to face more frequent flooding in future because of the likelihood of more extreme weather events due to the impact of climate change and rising sea levels.
Financial reports presented at the meeting showed that funding for flood risk management work in Wales continues to increase. The total Grant in Aid budget from the Welsh Assembly Government which the Committee administers through Environment Agency Wales now stands at over £34 million for 2009/2010.
This money is spent on a range of services and new technologies including major flood defense schemes to reduce the risk of flooding to communities across Wales. During the meeting the Committee heard that a number of initial projects put forward by Environment Agency Wales for European funding had been approved. These are the Conwy Valley, Tregaron and Valley schemes.
Members were also briefed on the setting up of the new joint Environment Agency and Met Office Flood Forecasting Centre to serve Wales and England. The centre has been created to forecast riving and coastal flooding as well as extreme rainfall which may lead to flooding from surface water. This will help provide earlier warnings of floods to local authorities and the emergency services, to give them more time to prepare for floods and reduce the risk of loss of life and damage to property.
Geraint Davies, Chair of Flood Risk Management Wales, said: "We can't eliminate risk so alongside growing investment renewed efforts are being made to ensure people know the risks they face and the action they should take in preparation for future flooding."
Read the full article from the Environment Agency here.
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