CEREDIGION County Council chiefs have stoutly defended their flood protection policy following stinging criticism from an Aberaeron councillor.

Commenting on the 3 January high tide which saw seawater over-lapping in the harbourside area of the town, Cllr Elizabeth Evans slammed cuts in the local authority’s sandbag allocation.

Responding to her remarks, a Ceredigion County Council spokesperson said that in the event of flooding the supply of sandbags was a voluntary service and the council could not guarantee the delivery of all sandbags at all sites that might need them.

The spokesperson added that:

• The primary responsibility for protecting property from flooding rests with the property owner

• In the event of severe weather and where there is a genuine risk of flooding Ceredigion County Council may provide filled sandbags to properties upon request

• Each request made will be considered and prioritised in relation to the prevailing circumstances, irrespective of the flooding source

• At times of high flood risk Ceredigion County Council will endeavour, on request, to deliver sandbags to occupied properties at imminent risk

“The council is not aware of requests for sandbags being received until after the high tide on Wednesday morning, 3 January, by which time the risk of flooding had passed,” she said.

“The council understands that some flooding affected one commercial property at Aberaeron over the new year, but that no requests for sandbags had been received prior to that flooding taking place. The council therefore considers that it has acted in accordance with the outlined policy."

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