Monmouthshire County Council’s Cabinet has approved a new Local Flood Risk Management Strategy to be submitted to Welsh Government for final approval.
The strategy sets out how the county will respond to increasing flood risks and the growing impacts of climate change.
The strategy provides a long-term framework for managing local flood risks from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses across Monmouthshire, replacing the council’s previous flood strategy and flood risk management plan.
It also introduces a comprehensive Flood Action Plan, bringing strategic objectives and practical actions together in one document. These include working with other Risk Management Authorities, such as Natural Resources Wales, which manages flood risk on main rivers including the Monnow, Wye and Usk.
Developed following extensive public consultation, the strategy focuses on reducing flood risk, protecting communities and infrastructure, improving understanding of flood risk, and strengthening resilience to future weather events.
It adopts a catchment-based approach, enabling the council and its partners to identify priorities and target investment where it can have the greatest impact.
The strategy highlights the increasing challenges posed by climate change and recent severe weather events, including unprecedented storms that have affected communities across Monmouthshire in recent years. It sets out measures that support sustainable drainage, natural flood management, environmental enhancement, community preparedness and partnership working.
Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment, Cllr Catrin Maby, said: “Flooding continues to affect communities across Monmouthshire, and climate change means we must be prepared for more frequent and severe weather events in the future.
“This strategy sets out a clear vision for how we will work with residents, Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Government and other partners to better understand, manage and reduce flood risk, while building stronger and more resilient communities.”
Find out more: democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=144&MId=6605