Madam,

This event certainly wasn’t a consultation as the community had no opportunity to have its say on the decisions that Gwynedd Council made and presented in their glossy, expensive-looking document. Nor was the community council consulted.

Gwynedd Council has decided itself what is to happen to Fairbourne and presented that to the people as a fait accompli.

The council didn’t even send a letter to each household informing them of the “consultation” sessions.

I am impressed with the intelligence and knowledge of many in the Fairbourne community. They are not climate change deniers; they accept that our way of living is leading to a rise in sea levels and more extreme weather conditions and they want to be involved in the process of helping the community to deal with that.

They are very frustrated that Gwynedd Council has made no financial assessment of the cost of either decommissioning or of improving the sea defences but have just decided that decommissioning is the only option.

There is nothing in the council document about what decommissioning will mean, where the roughly 1,000 residents will be expected to live (especially as there is a shortage of affordable housing in the area), and whether they be charged for the demolition of their houses, etc. There are lots of people in the community with good ideas and these need to be listened to and considered.

A vast majority of the residents are owner-occupiers who have invested all their money in their property. If the council has its way, they will end up homeless; and they certainly do not want to spend their final days in some B&B.

This is a lively and dynamic community that has a lot going for it. It should not be sacrificed so easily.

This is more than just a local issue. Gwynedd Council and Natural Resources Wales should be engaging seriously with both the Welsh Assembly and the Westminster Government to see what resources and finance can be found to find a more satisfactory solution for this community.

Yours etc, Roger H Duke, Ffordd y Bryn, Friog.

Have your say on the local issues affecting you - email [email protected] or join in the conversation on our Facebook page