Earlier this week, the Welsh Government received a letter signed by the leader of the WLGA, Andrew Morgan, on behalf of all local authority leaders which asked for a review of the functions undertaken by NRW, how well they are being performed and whether there might be an alternative including changes in legislation.
In an urgent topical question regarding the letter today, Janet Finch-Saunders MS – the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy and Shadow Minister for Climate Change – reiterated her calls for the establishment of a National Flood Agency for Wales that was 100% focussed on flooding. Janet used the moment to highlight community requests for dredging of the Afon Conwy, protection of Gwydir Castle, and removal of the build-up of shale around Llanrwst bridge.
Commenting after her question, Janet said:
“This situation cannot be more serious – to have all of Wales’s 22 Local Authorities calling for a review of NRW’s powers underlines the distrust that permeates the public sector over the quango’s ability to deliver on important and defining issues such as flooding.
“With this letter outlining that ‘a number of leaders suggested that not all is well’, recent concerns raised by the Section 19 report by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and the handling of the Tan Lan Embankment issue in my constituency of Aberconwy have only worked to heighten tensions.
“It is clear that its remit is too broad, highlighting the need for a dedicated National Flood Agency for Wales. With an estimated 148,000 Welsh residents living in areas of significant flood risk from rivers, the sea and surface water, we need officers working who are 100% focussed on this issue.
“It’s been clear for some time that the public and other key public bodies in Wales have lost faith in the organisation and so the Minister must look to review its performance and consider reparations for those who have been negatively impacted by the reported mismanagement.”
