Three Quarters Of A Million Pounds For Little Haven Flood Alleviation Scheme

The Welsh Government is making nearly three quarters of a million pounds available to help reduce the risk of flooding to homes and businesses in Little Haven. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The village of Little Haven, in Pembrokeshire, has been regularly affected by both fluvial and tidal flooding, with the most recent event in January 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The flooding is caused by shingle building up and blocking a stream from flowing out under a road bridge onto the beach. Severe storms also cause flooding with water flowing over the existing sea defences. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The funding being announced today by the Welsh Government will contribute 85% towards the cost of construction of the flood alleviation scheme, a grant value of £729,348 towards the total cost of £858,057. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Little Haven flood alleviation scheme will include: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• placing shingle in front of the existing defences to alleviate any overtopping,
• installing a short length of box culvert to extend the outfall down the beach beyond the shingle bank,
• raising the current sea defences,
• replacing lost shingle, restoring the profile of the beach.

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am pleased to confirm the Welsh Government will provide nearly three quarters of a million pounds of funding to help protect Little Haven from flooding. This will provide reassurance to all those who live and work in, or visit this popular village. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This financial year we are committed to investing almost £55million in flood risk management to reduce risk to homes and businesses across Wales and we are delivering on our promise.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pembrokeshire County Council is providing the remaining 15 per cent of the funding. Its Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, Huw George, welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement. He added: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are pleased that we will now be able to proceed with this scheme in order to address the flooding concerns of a number of Little Haven residents.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​