Flood defence
Radical plans to prepare Wales for a rising tide of freak weather and flooding as a result of climate change are to be unveiled by environmental chiefs.
A far-reaching strategy for the next 100 years will openly acknowledge that not everyone can be protected from the misery of flooding.
The shape of things to come as set out in the Catchment Flood Management Plans (CFMPs) will be revealed by the Environment Agency Wales later this month.
It forms part of an extensive three-month consultation with those most affected by flooding from homeowners and landowners to the economy and environment.
The CFMPs is a long-term strategic response to the predicted rise in heavy rainfall, triggered by climate change, expected in Wales over the next 100 years.
The three-month consultation is designed to start a wider debate on future flood management while talking to key organisations and community groups to gain valuable local knowledge.
The CFMPs are supported by both the Welsh Assembly Government and Defra in England, and are based on river and not political boundaries.
Chris Mills, director of Environment Agency Wales, said: "Traditionally, the approach to managing flood risk has been dominated by the construction of flood defences.
"But in the future it will not be possible to defend everyone, everywhere, all of the time.
"Building higher and higher defences won't solve the problem in 100 years' time.
"We have to put plans in motion now to collectively find the best solutions for dealing with increased volumes of water that will inevitably cause us problems in the future.
"We have seen over the last few days the problems that floods can cause. It is important that we look to tackle flooding now and in the future."
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