The UK seaside village that faces being abandoned to the sea forever | Travel News | Travel

The residents of Fairbourne in Gwynedd were once predicted to become the UK’s first “climate refugees” due to a triple threat of flooding. This label was first used when Cyngor Gwynedd announced in 2014 that it could not indefinitely maintain flood defences in the face of rising global sea levels.

Some speculated that the village had three decades left, with Natural Resources Wales pinpointing 2054 as a potential tipping point. The “curse” of Fairbourne was the flood risks it faced from the sea, the nearby Afon Mawddach, and, due to its low-lying land, a flood risk from groundwater. There were plans to “decommission” the entire village, dismantling homes, roads, shops and infrastructure and reverting it back to marshland.

The villagers would have been the first Welsh community to be displaced from their homes since Capel Celyn near Bala was flooded in the 1960s to supply water to Liverpool.

However, the community rallied instead of succumbing to their watery fate. Since then, the official stance has been less definitive, with hopes that solutions can be found to mitigate and manage the ever-increasing flood risk.

North Wales Live contacted Natural Resources Wales and Cyngor Gwynedd to establish the present circumstances and their future planning strategies, reports WalesOnline.

NRW revealed they are preparing to conduct an assessment which they anticipate will deliver viable options – crucially including the financial implications.

Cyngor Gwynedd confirmed they are collaborating with multiple partners to strategise ahead, ensuring the “safety of people living in all coastal communities at serious risk of flooding due to climate change”.

Regarding the present circumstances, NRW stated: “Natural Resources Wales continues to manage and maintain the defences at Fairbourne in line with Government policy, guidance and available funding. Quarterly meetings are being held between NRW, community representatives and other public bodies, including Cyngor Gwynedd and Arthog Community Council to ensure everyone is kept up to date.

“We continue our routine inspections of flood defence assets in the area, including monitoring the integrity and stability of the shingle bank. Alongside inspections, routine maintenance is carried out annually with further inspections and reprofiling taking place after storm events, should it be required. The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now – here’s how to sign up”.

“Shingle naturally moves from south to north, so periodically work takes place to return shingle south to support the integrity of the bank and reduce flood risk.”

Discussing future plans, they said: “To decide the future long-term management of flood risk management assets at Fairbourne, we need to better understand what actions may be needed, how much they may cost and when they need to take place. To achieve this, we will undertake a comprehensive, evidence-based appraisal.

“A range of different management approaches will be considered, and a shortlist of potentially feasible options will be drawn up. We will then speak to the community and gather their views as part of a wide-ranging engagement process.

“We would then undertake a more detailed review of these options to identify the most appropriate approach for the future according to the established Government policy and guidance. The implementation and timescale would be subject to approval and available funding from the Welsh Government’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Programme.

“We have already completed a comprehensive literature review including academic studies, media publications, technical reports and other publications to inform the start of this process. Our more comprehensive detailed appraisal will build on SMP2 (Shoreline Management Plan) and determine what the most appropriate approach for the future is according to the established Government policy and guidance.”

A spokesperson for Cyngor Gwynedd stated: “Cyngor Gwynedd is part of the Fairbourne Partnership, and works with other members to sustainably plan ahead to ensure the safety of people living in all coastal communities at serious risk of flooding due to climate change. All decisions about the future of Fairbourne are taken in full consultation with the Fairbourne Partnership.

“The Partnership’s goal is to identify actions – such as projects, policies and legislation, or funding and financing opportunities – that the Fairbourne community can take to better prepare for a changing climate. It draws upon expertise and knowledge from a wide range of groups and organisations, including: Arthog Community Council, various departments at Cyngor Gwynedd, Natural Resource Wales, Public Health Wales, Welsh Government, North Wales Regional Emergency Planning Group, the Emergency Services and Welsh Water.

“With regard to planning policy, there is a duty to determine planning applications in accordance with both national and local planning policy frameworks. In this case, the current adopted Local Development Plan is the Gwynedd and Anglesey Joint Local Development Plan, which was adopted in 2017. Therefore, planning applications are determined using the Joint Local Development Plan and national planning policy, where appropriate.”