Minister confirms next steps for project to help Gwynedd coastal community ‘face change’

Minister confirms next steps for project to help Gwynedd coastal community ‘face change’
The Welsh Government has confirmed the next stage of a project to help a Gwynedd community adapt to rising seas.
Fairbourne village, on the coast of Barmouth Bay, is a low-lying community included in the West of Wales Shoreline Management Plan 2 (SMP2). There is a commitment to defend the village from flooding for at least the next 40 years. Depending upon sea level rise, under the SMP2, the village would be the subject of Managed Retreat at some point in the future.
In May, Joyce Watson AM organised a meeting at the National Assembly for Wales between environment minister Carl Sargeant and representatives of community action group Fairbourne Facing Change.
After the meeting the Labour Mid and West AM said:
“It is always worthwhile, I think, to get people together in a room, to discuss issues face-to-face, so I was pleased to facilitate the meeting.
“As Fairbourne residents look ahead and plan for the future, it is crucial that they have open and honest communication with the agencies taking forward the Shoreline Management Plan.”
Following publication of the SMP2 Gwynedd Council set up the Fairbourne Project to help residents plan for the big changes ahead. The project is being advised by a multi-agency Board made up of community representatives, Natural Resources Wales and Welsh Government.
The minister, in a follow up letter to Mrs Watson, confirms a Welsh Government researcher will be appointed to the project in the autumn. He has also written to the transport minister, Edwina Hart AM, about including Network Rail in shoreline management planning decisions. Here is the letter: