Conwy face £275K coastal path storm-damage bill

Urgent repair work will be carried out by the council at a Llanfairfechan coastal path – costing Conwy £275,000.

Although Conwy is not responsible for the area of the coastal path, the public right of way was badly cracked and damaged in a storm on October 5, causing a breach in the sea wall.

But the owner of this part of the path near West Shore Road is unknown, and the land is unregistered, meaning it’s difficult to recover the costs.

At a virtual meeting this week, cabinet members voted to carry out urgent repairs as the damage leaves several properties on West Shore Road vulnerable to flooding.

If the work is not carried out, the council also warned the size of the breach will worsen, increasing the cost of the repair work, threatening the Holyhead railway line and the A55.

The funds will come out of Conwy’s capital budget, part of which is available for coastal defence maintenance. Council officers will also seek to trace the landowners and attempt to recover the cost.

Cllr Greg Robbins is the cabinet member for environment and transportation and said Conwy was empowered under the Building Act 1984 to deal with any structure that is considered to be in a dangerous condition.
“This is not a simple situation,” he said.
“There was a previous breach there (to the sea wall) in 2010, and this area is vulnerable in nature; however, it is not in the council’s ownership and therefore not normally maintained by the council.
“However, given the fact that this breach has occurred as a result of this weather incident and there are properties that could be affected further behind the footpath, it is considered that we do need to take a responsible attitude in regard to this.”

Cllr Nigel Smith commented: “We need just to recognise the important of the coastline to tourism, and I think it is right that we should be looking to repair this much-needed coastal path.”

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter