MPs taking part in a House of Commons debate last week were told of ongoing problems in obtaining funding to protect key elements of Wales’ critical infrastructure at serious risk from coastal erosion.

Speaking in the debate on Welsh Affairs, David Jones Conservative MP for Clwyd West, told colleagues that Old Colwyn was facing a significant problem of crumbling sea defences, an issue which had wider implications. The growing impacts of climate change meant that “that there is no doubt that coastal erosion is going to become an increasing problem”, he added.

He explained that the promenade in Old Colwyn had been badly affected by high seas in February last year. However, despite that fact that it had now been repaired with contributions from Welsh Water, engineers were warning that the sea defences are now in “such a parlous condition” that they are in danger of being swept away into the sea.

Image: Environment Agency Coastal Erosion map

He went on to warn:

“This is more than an issue of the promenade at Old Colwyn, because the sea defences at Old Colwyn also protect the main sewer for Colwyn bay, the main London to Holyhead railway line and the A55 main trunk road to Holyhead.”

“If these sea defences are compromised to the extent that they are destroyed, there would be an immediate and serious environmental incident in the Irish sea, there would be the potential loss of that important rail connection between London and Holyhead, and the A55 would be closed, too.”

He told MPs that while everyone agreed that the defences need repair, with an estimated cost of some £37 million, the problem lies with “who actually pays for the cost.”

The responsible Welsh Government Minister had informed him that although coastal defences are a devolved competence, the Welsh Government would not contribute to the cost of repair if the defences do not protect houses or dwellings.

Commenting on other potential sources of funding, he added:

“Welsh Water has spoken optimistically about a contribution but, of course, it requires others to contribute, too. Network Rail has very few funds available to contribute to the repair. Conwy County Borough Council, the responsible local authority, has no capital-raising powers, so it cannot pay for the repairs, either.”

The MP referred to a similar event in Dawlish five years ago when the railway line was swept into the sea which had caused chaos on the south-west peninsula.

“Whole north-west Wales economy in danger of being affected by a serious incident in Old Colwyn"

Concluding his speech, David Jones said:

“As we speak, the whole north-west Wales economy is in danger of being affected by a serious incident in Old Colwyn. I ask Ministers to give consideration to that and to seek to work with the Welsh Assembly Government, and with all the other interested parties, to try to get these defences repaired.”

“This problem affects my constituency but, because of climate change and coastal erosion, it will affect many other constituencies right across Wales.”

In 2014, Conwy County Borough Council completed a £16 million scheme to improve the coastal defences in Colwyn Bay. The scheme included the construction of a rock groyne, rock revetment, rraised the promenade and renourished the beach. This reduced the risk of both coastal flooding and coastal erosion to 185 homes and 7 businesses, along with increased protection to the A55 and mainline rail link to Holyhead.

The collapse of the proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon was also raised by during the wide-ranging debate Labour MP Carolyn Harris, who described is as a project with the capacity not only to “reshape the energy mix of an entire region, but to make Swansea a world leader in tidal energy.”

However, despite the fact that the lagoon had received the full support, both practical and financial, of the Welsh Government, the project of “rare transformative capability”, had been “damaged immeasurably by the clumsy indifference and terrible short-sightedness of those on the Conservative Benches.”

“Promises were repeatedly made and assurances offered, but ultimately all turned to dust. At the eleventh hour, the Government pulled their support for the most spurious of reasons.” she added.

Anna McMorrin Labour, Cardiff North accused the Secretary of State for Wales of having done “perilously little to stand up for our country”, saying:

“ When I asked him in the Welsh Affairs Committee to name an infrastructure project in Wales that he has helped to secure during his time as Secretary of State, he could not name one. It was no to rail electrification, no to the tidal lagoon, no to Wylfa Newydd, and no to onshore and offshore renewable energy projects.”