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Barmouth Flood Works Set for Summer Start as Residents Condemn 1.7m Secondary Wall

Designers prioritize inland protection and seafront character by letting the promenade take floodwater rather than raising the main sea wall.

Overview

  • Cyngor Gwynedd’s two-year coastal defence project is due to begin this summer and finish by summer 2028, with construction paused in school holidays.
  • The plan keeps the primary seafront wall at its current height but adds a 1.2km set‑back concrete recurve wall rising to 1.55–1.7 metres, with the promenade and Marine Parade closing to act as a flood buffer during storms.
  • Project modelling indicates a one‑in‑200‑year event could leave parts of the resort under more than two metres of water, threatening about 757 properties and the Cambrian railway.
  • Opposition led publicly by resident Kye Smith challenges the wall’s height, visual impact and safety of planned rock armour, citing a 2024 rescue on Tywyn’s rock armour and concerns over beach loss.
  • Around 86,000 tonnes of rock are required for the revetment, with delivery options under review that include thousands of HGV trips through the town or fewer barge loads.