'Floods town is open to disaster'

Monmouth was devastated by flooding in the winter of 2000, and some areas were under water again last winter.

Now Monmouth AM David Davies has described the results of a study into the future of the River Monnow's flood defences as "a total disaster".

A public meeting is due to take place this evening at 7pm at the Bridges Community Centre to discuss the Environment Agency study.

Mr Davies, who has been fighting to see a copy of the pre-feasibility study drawn up by the Environment Agency into the future of the town's defences, was surprised by the information disclosed to him.

The study lists 400 projects across Wales where flood barriers are needed - but not all will be acted on, as the areas with greatest need are prioritised.

He said: "The National Assembly gave me the impression that work was to begin at any moment on flood defences. However, if the draft pre-feasibility study is acceptable it will be summer 2003 at the earliest before work begins.

"This means that we face two winters without flooding protection. This is a total disaster for Monmouth. At the public meeting I will be protesting and demanding that the Assembly takes action."

Mr Davies said he feared a repetition of the 2000 floods would occur due to inadequate flood planning.

A spokesman for Environment Minister Sue Essex, who was also speaking for the Environment Agency, claimed that flood defences were the responsibility of local authorities, and said the Assembly had simply funded the studies.

He said the current study would decide whether work needed to be done and would have to be followed by another, more detailed study, while any work would be the decision of Monmouthshire county council.

A spokesman for the council said they had no plans to attend the meeting. He said they were waiting to see the outcome of the study themselves to know whether Monmouth was seen as high risk by the Environment Agency.