The Government and the Welsh Assembly Government have published their policy aims for dealing with flood and coastal defence.

The first target requires each operating authority to publish a Policy Statement setting out their plans for delivering the Government’s policy aims and objectives in their area.

The Policy Statement will include the Council’s assessment of flooding and coastal erosion in the Borough and plans for reducing or managing those risks.

1.1 This policy statement has been prepared by Bridgend County Borough Council to provide a public statement of the Council's approach to flood and coastal defence in its area.

1.2 The National Assembly for Wales has policy responsibility for flood and coastal defence in Wales. However, delivery is the responsibility of a number of flood and coastal defence "operating authorities" i.e. the Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards. Responsibilities differ according to the type of operating authority and Bridgend County Borough Council's responsibilities are set out in paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2 below.

1.3 The Government has published a policy aim and three objectives for flood and coastal defence. To ensure a more certain delivery of the aim and objectives by the individual operating authorities The National Assembly has published a series of high level targets. The first target requires each operating authority to publish a policy statement setting out their plans for delivering the Government's policy aim and objectives in their area. This will include their assessment of flooding and coastal erosion risk in their area, and the plans for reducing or managing that risk.

1.4 This policy statement fulfils that requirement. Copies are also available from the Council's offices at the Civic Offices Angel Street Bridgend and on the Internet at www.bridgend.gov.uk . We are also providing a copy to:

• The National Assembly for Wales Environment Division;

• The National Assembly for Wales Planning Division; and

• Environment Agency Wales

2.1 Bridgend CBC acknowledges and supports the Government's aim and objectives for flood and coastal defence (as set out below). Our policy and approach will be consistent with them, as follows:

Government's policy aim: To reduce the risk to people and the developed and natural environment from flooding and coastal erosion by encouraging the provision of technically, environmentally and economically sound and sustainable defence measures.

Section 3 below sets out our plans for reducing or managing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion risk in the Council's area.

Objective (a): To encourage the provision of adequate and cost effective flood warning systems.

Provision of flood warning systems is the responsibility of the Environment Agency. However, Bridgend CBC recognises its related and important role in emergency planning and response. We will therefore:

• ensure that our emergency response plans include appropriate arrangements for flooding emergencies and that such plans are reviewed, in consultation with the Environment Agency, at least every two years;

• maintain an awareness of the Environment Agency's flood warning dissemination plan for our area and contribute to its implementation as necessary; and

• play an agreed role in any flood warning emergency exercises organised by the Environment Agency covering our area.

Objective (b): To encourage the provision of adequate, economically, technically and environmentally sound and sustainable flood and coastal defence measures.

• provide an adequate, economically, technically and environmentally sound approach to providing the flood and coastal defence service.

• adopt a strategic approach to provision of flood and coastal defences, particularly by assessing any potentially wider effects of proposed defences. To this end we will continue to play a full role in Shoreline Management Plans, and Local Environment Agency Plans, for our area;

• aim to provide sustainable flood and coastal defences which provide social and/or economic benefits to people whilst taking account of natural processes and which avoid committing future generations to inappropriate defence options;

• ensure that work is carried out in accordance with best practice and to deliver best value for money including (a) keeping up-to-date with policy and technical developments in flood and coastal defence, in particular by reference to guidance issued by The National Assembly, other Government publications and relevant technical manuals; (b) consulting the Environment Agency on flood defence options to ensure that best practice is adopted and shared; and (c) using appropriately qualified experts to advise on analysis and design of works or programmes of management;

• consider alternative approaches to funding, such as Public Private Partnerships;

• where appropriate seek contributions from developers or other direct beneficiaries of works, in accordance with the Planning Guidance (Wales) Technical Advice Note 15: Development and Flood Risk

• ensure that appropriate maintenance regimes are in place for flood and coastal defences for which the Council takes responsibility;

• inform landowners of what responsibilities for maintenance rest with them (see paragraph 3.1 below);

• make available to any member of the public making an enquiry the Council's expenditure plans for flood and coastal defence maintenance and capital works.

• play a positive role in fulfilling our statutory and other responsibilities for furthering nature conservation, including achievement of the Government's environmental obligations and targets. In particular we will:

• fulfil our responsibilities in relation to nationally and internationally important conservation areas, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and as a competent authority under the terms of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994.

• when carrying out flood and coastal defence works, seek opportunities for environmental enhancement, and aim to avoid damage to environmental interest and to ensure no net loss to species and habitats covered by Biodiversity Action Plans. We will monitor all losses and gains of such habitats as a result of these operations and report on them annually to the Environment Agency;

• ensure there is no unavoidable damage to the historic environment, and consult CADW whenever works may affect the historic environment,

particularly scheduled ancient monuments for which their consent is required; and

Objective (c): To discourage inappropriate development in areas at risk from flooding and coastal erosion.

As the local planning authority for our area, Bridgend CBC will take account of flooding and coastal erosion risks in all matters relating to development control, including development plans and individual planning applications, in accordance with the Council's current Unitary Development Plan, Planning Guidance (Wales) Planning Policy and TAN-15 Development and Flood Risk.

3.1 Apart from certain obligations to protect internationally important habitats under the EU Habitats Directive, all flood and coastal defence works are undertaken under permissive powers. This means that operating authorities, such as Bridgend CBC, are not obliged to carry out flood and coastal defence works. It is also important to note that the Council does not normally accept responsibility for maintenance of flood defences on private land; this is the responsibility of the landowner.

• flood defences on ordinary watercourses;

• coast protection (i.e. measures against coastal erosion) on all frontages in the authority's area.

3.3 The flood and coastal defences that are owned or managed by the Council are detailed in our return for the database which is maintained by the Environment Agency.

3.4 The Environment Agency is the relevant operating authority for flood defences on designated main rivers and coastal frontages. Culverts under roads are generally the responsibility of the relevant Highways Authority (County Council or The National Assembly Highways Division).

3.5 There are in excess of 120 km of ordinary watercourses for which Bridgend CBC is the relevant operating authority. These are all the watercourses in the Council's area except those which are designated as main river and are thus the responsibility of the Environment Agency. There is no internal drainage board operating in the Council's area.

3.6 We have agreed with the Environment Agency that within the Council's area there are 17 km. of "critical ordinary watercourses" (i.e. watercourses which are not classified as "main river" but which the Council has agreed with the Environment Agency to be critical because they have the potential to put at risk from flooding large numbers of people and property).

3.7 Based on historical flooding information, coupled with the Environment Agency's indicative flood plain maps, the Council has carried out an assessment of the risk of flooding from the ordinary watercourses in our area. The Council is satisfied that there are minimal risks to human life created by these flood risks from ordinary watercourses, but emphasises the need for the Environment Agency's flood warnings to be heeded, where these are provided (see below).

The main means by which flood risks will be managed is through the Environment Agency's flood warning dissemination plan of September 2000. This makes arrangements for river flood warnings to be provided in Maesteg, Aberkenfig, Ogmore Vale, Blackmill, Bridgend, Pencoed, Waterton, Abergarw, and the parts of Ewenny Village within this authority’s boundary. Tidal flood warnings are issued for Newton and Porthcawl.

3.9 The Council intends to prepare a programme to inspect the state of:

• flood defences (whether or not owned by the Council) on all ordinary watercourses and

• all critical ordinary watercourses and related culverts.

3.10 The Council will ensure that regular maintenance is carried out on the flood defences and channels which we own, or for which we accept responsibility, so that they operate at optimum efficiency. Where the responsibility for maintenance rests with a landowner, we will aim to secure co-operation in ensuring appropriate maintenance takes place, drawing on enforcement powers if necessary.

3.11 The Council's major capital works plan is to carry out flood relief and improvement schemes at a number of locations throughout the Borough subject to the level and availability of grant for Land Drainage and Coast Protection works from the National Assembly For Wales

3.12 The Council is responsible for preparing the Unitary Development Plan in accordance with advice in Planning Policy (Wales) and TAN 15 (Development and Flood Risk). Following these policies, together with measures to ensure

the provision of sustainable urban drainage systems, will mean that risks are minimised.

3.13 As identified in the 2001 Shoreline Management Plan, of the 16.11 km. of shoreline in the Council's area, 3.18 km. is defended against erosion. The Council as Coast Protection Authority is responsible for 1.97 km. of these defences, the Environment Agency is responsible for 0.36 km. and 0.85 km. are the responsibility of private owners. The remaining frontage consists of 7.58 km of hard rock shoreline and 5.35 km of dunes and shingle.

3.14 Risks of erosion of the defended frontage at Porthcawl are low and the proposal of the Shoreline Management Plan for these defences is to hold or advance the line. There is little likelihood of significant erosion along the hard rock shoreline and on the undefended dune areas the plan indicates selective ‘hold the line' or retreat.

3.15 The Council operates a programme of routine beach management for the protected frontage consisting of regular inspections and carrying out maintenance work as any deficiencies are identified. Our management regime takes into account the most recent predictions of the impact of climate change as set out in the 2001 SMP.

4.1 The Council has set out its policy and approach to flood and coastal defence. We recognise the need to work in partnership with the National Assembly and other operating authorities. Our local population also has an important part to play in recognising the vital importance of watercourses in controlling flood risk and the need to avoid blockages particularly culvert inlet grids, whether by dumping of rubbish, garden waste and debris, or by obstructing flows in other ways. We ask members of the public to let us know of any problems which might increase the risk of flooding or coastal erosion.

4.2 Bridgend CBC intend to review this policy statement in three years time, when it will be revised and reissued as necessary. Meanwhile, the Council welcomes any comments on the approach and policies set out in this document.