CEREDIGION County Council is seemingly at odds with its own flood protection policy, an Aberaeron town councillor has claimed.

Cllr Elizabeth Evans told colleagues last week that the local authority’s decision to reduce its sandbag allocation as part of a cost-cutting drive was impacting on businesses in the harbour area.

She was speaking after a high tide saw ‘over-lapping’ on New Year’s Day, although a sudden drop in the wind prevented the situation from becoming more serious.

“Yes, it is the individual responsibility of homeowners to protect their homes, but the local authority does have a duty to protect life as well as vulnerable adults and businesses,” said Cllr Evans.

“By cutting back on their sandbag allocation it would appear that they are at odds with their own policies

“They need to decide whether that is indeed a priority – if it isn’t then we obviously need to tell businesses.

“We have a couple of high tides coming soon so either the county council are on-board with us on this or they’re not.”

Town mayor Cllr Rhys Davies confirmed that his family’s harbour-side business had been affected by water coming up through drains as the water table was currently so high.