THE COUNCIL’S Cabinet will discuss the options for flood alleviation measures at Haven’s Head and Lower Priory, Milford Haven.

The Cabinet meets on Monday, September 14.

On the agenda are the findings of a report commissioned following a major flooding event in November 2018.

The report by Capita examined the causes of the flooding and identified a ‘business as usual’ scenario as a viable option.

However, a series of other potential options were also highlighted.

The report concluded a combination of a rapidly rising watercourse, silting in the pills, high water levels in them after heavy and sustained rainfall, the low capacity of the culverts, and high tide levels all contributed to the floods.

The report notes the drainage system’s complexity and the poor condition of much of its infrastructure.
In July, The Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolved that the matter be reported to Cabinet with the recommendation to explore every possible avenue of funding to alleviate the flooding problem.

The Committee also reviewed a report prepared for the Port Authority by civil engineering firm Atkins last June.

Atkins’ report recommended the Port Authority should significantly increase the width of the culverts to cope with increased volumes of water run-off.

At the time, several councillors asked if, as the Port Authority claims, the existing culverts are adequate and fit for purpose, why Atkins recommended their size should be increased to handle three times the volume of water for which they’re currently designed.

Although the Capita report recognises engineering options could be used to help alleviate the flood risk it notes the options for doing so are expensive and would require further justification to the Welsh Government to secure funding.

Capita’s economic assessment says a flood alleviation scheme would be difficult to justify over and above what it describes as ‘Business as Usual’.

That option involves doing the (bare) legal minimum to maintain flood defences.

It accepts flood risks affecting several residential and commercial properties but does not take into account rising sea levels, the increased frequency of extreme weather events, or the continuing development at Milford Haven Docks.

Responding to an enquiry by Cllr Mike Stoddart, Council officer Emyr Williams accepted the hydraulics of the system were ‘less than satisfactory’. Cllr Stoddart suggested the Council should commission work to see if the diversion of the Haven Head culvert to discharge directly into the Docks would – at least – partly address the flood risk.

Cllr Stephen Joseph pointed out that the effects of flooding, severe as they were at Havens Head, were substantially reduced by the actions of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

He pointed out the Port Authority had done very well out of its ownership of the land, as had the previous Milford Docks Company. The Port Authority, he said, should not be allowed to ignore problems which arose as a result of its actions or inaction.

Cllr Joseph also said that if Fire Service pumps hadn’t removed as many as 14,000 litres of water a minute from Havens Head, the buildings there would have been inundated at an extraordinary cost. The Fire Service, Stephen Joseph said, were not there as an insurance policy for a landowner which failed to act to protect its own property.

The report before Cabinet recommends an additional review examining enhanced option costing, the viability of addressing the flooding of properties, property level protection, potential impact of climate change and the potential for partnership working.