Waterfront road set to close for 12 months for sea defence work

A vulnerable waterfront road will be closed for up to 12 months to install the next phase of sea defences worth more than £6m.

Approximately half a mile of rock armour will be built in front of Old Colwyn’s promenade after Welsh Government stumped up the cash to pay for it.

It means the stretch just east of Porth Eirias up to Splash Point will be closed for a year while works are completed.

The £6.075m scheme, which continues on from the previous phase of the project, will help protect the area from flooding and wave over-topping for another 100 years.

Although the cash was announced last June, Conwy county council has the funding in place and is in the final stages of engaging contractors to start work – which will take up to 12 months to complete.

Cllr Cheryl Carlisle (Colwyn ward) thanked the Conwy flood defence team and cabinet member for environment Greg Robbins for pushing the programme forward.

She added: “I also want to thank the people of Old Colwyn for their support, as I finally believe we can get this done.
“We hope to raise the rest of the £32m to make sustainable flood defences that will last for another century.”

Alternative routes will be put in place for pedestrians and cyclists during construction and contractors will try and keep the path at the base of the railway embankment open.

The project will also see repairs to the existing sea wall and steps along the length of the scheme, plus access for fishermen so they don’t get their lines tangled in the new rock armour.

New cycle tracks and railings will also be installed as part of the project.

Cllr Brian Cossey (Colwyn ward) said: “It’s excellent news. To come up with £6m is fantastic to protect the sea front.
“We now look forward to the final phase when we hope the other partners join with ourselves to complete the defences.”

Those partners are Welsh Water, who have already agreed to contribute to the final phase of works, and Network Rail.

The rail body, which is funded by UK Government, has been less forthcoming about chipping in for the final phase despite part of the track being at risk if the improvements to defences aren’t made.

It is understood Clwyd West MP David Jones has been making representations to the UK’s department for transport on behalf of Conwy county council to get some cash out of Network Rail.
The final phase will see the promenade widened and raised by about a metre to counteract sea level rises associated with global warming.

By Jez Hemming – Local Democracy Reporter