Demand for sand to be used in sea defences

Changes could be made to plans for sea defences at Llandudno after councillors approved plans for a new scheme to protect the town’s seafront.
Plans for the defences were before councillors meeting on Wednesday night in Conwy.
A meeting of the council’s economy and place committee approved options for the defences and asked for a business case be put to the Welsh Government so funds can be made available for the scheme.
A public consultation event was held with over 800 attendees to see which options for the sea defences were preferred.
The North Shore options include carrying on with business as usual or beach nourishment (where sand is replaced) or the second option with shore connected control structures.
Members of the public said they wanted to see sand used to replace the existing cobble.
The third combined option could result in a capital cost of £12,100,000.
The control structures would be fishtail or timber groynes placed on the beach.
West Shore could see periodic maintenance or a wall extension to existing defences or a combination of both.
Owen Conry, the council’s acting flood risk and infrastructure manager, said: “The local population want a flood defence scheme that will future proof North and West Shore and also provide greater amenity.”
Conwy county councillor Joan Vaughan felt that any new defences would have to take what local people want into account.
She said: “The interest in Llandudno is enormous and it’s vital.
“It’s why Llandudno  exists with the hotels and the tourism aspect. I can understand why people want more sand and they don’t like the stones, but the Welsh Government may not consider that.”
Cllr Greg Robbins, the cabinet member responsible for the environment and a county councillor for the Mostyn ward, said: “What is trying to be done here is not to turn the entire bay back into sand.
“It’s a reasonable compromise to get a section of the bay back to an amenity based family area.
“Therefore, hopefully, with a fair wind we can push this forward to the Welsh Government and provide the sea defence and the amenity for Llandudno.”

By Shane Brennan – Local Democracy Reporter