Multi million pound surface water improvement announced

The funding has been announced by environment minister Huw Irranca- Davies, to improve drainage in areas that struggle to cope during heavy rainfall.

Last year local authorities were invited to submit bids, for £20,000 to £100,000 to carry out ‘immediate engineering’ works and to produce specific management plans to help them deal with known local flooding problems.

More than 1,600 properties are expected to benefit directly from the works and the plans will help local authorities understand better the ways of managing flood risk for a further 112,000 properties.

Mr Irranca-Davies said: “Local authorities have a crucial role to play in tackling flooding and it’s vital that they have these funds now so that work can begin on resolving local flooding immediately.

“At the same time they will have the chance to develop the understanding and skills they need for the longer term.

“We wanted to make sure these funds go where it’s most needed and where it can make the biggest difference.”

Updated guidance has also been issued to help those local authorities who are developing Surface Water Management Plans.

A list of the councils awarded funding can be found here.

Luke Walsh