FAIRBOURNE residents say they have been left frustrated after a meeting with top officials to discuss the village’s future.

Crowds of residents packed in to Fairbourne village hall to discuss the future of the village with officials from public bodies such as Welsh Water, The Welsh Government, Gwynedd Council and Natural Resources Wales.

The Fairbourne: Moving Forward meeting was held to discuss projects which will help protect Fairbourne as rising sea levels that threaten to eradicate the village within the century.

Two years ago, the village was safeguarded by Gwynedd Council for the next four decades, but locals are growing concerned that no new information about their future is forthcoming.

As things stand, Fairbourne will enter into a ‘managed retreat’ after 38 years, which will see sections of the village abandoned as sea levels rise as part of the controversial Shoreline Management Plan 2.

Residents are particularly keen to hear about a suggested buy-to-let scheme, an initiative which may allow residents in Fairbourne to release equity from their homes.

In theory, homeowners can either sell their home to the company who runs the scheme and then move out or remain in the Fairbourne property and rent the property back from the company, whilst being able to spend their equity.

However, Gwynedd Council has said that no commercial organisations have shown an interest in such a scheme to date.

One disgruntled resident, who was present at the meeting but did not wish to be named, said: “I think in all honestly, people are feeling fed up with hearing the same old news.

“What we are very keen to hear about is the buy-to-let scheme which could be very useful to the village, especially considering our ageing population.

“Houses in the area have drastically reduced in value as misleading media reports have blighted the area, we would like to know what our options are.”

Community action group Fairbourne Facing Change chair Pete Cole understood residents’ exasperation but believes the recent meeting was worthwhile.

“In my opinion, the frustrations all goes back to the implementation of the SMP2 some years ago,” he said.

“The SMP2 was released with little or no consultation with local communities and their evidence was not properly scrutinised.

“The cart was put before the horse in that sense, people are only now finding out the relevant information.

“What we’re dealing with now is a new level of communication between Fairbourne, the county council and the Welsh government,” Mr Cole continued.

“I understand that questions were asked at the meeting last Friday that weren’t answered but we can rest safe in the knowledge that they will be soon, and answered in great detail.

“There is a community meeting being held by Fairbourne Facing Change on Friday, 5 February, which will react to the new information received at the Fairbourne: Moving Forward meeting.

“There, Fairbourne Facing Chance will work with the community to find out how they want us to move forward with the local government to best suit the community’s needs.”

Speaking of the meeting, a Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “We are grateful to all who attended the information events last Friday.

“Both sessions provided an opportunity for all the relevant agencies to provide an update on the Fairbourne: Moving Forward project for local residents.

“Further meetings will be held in the area in the near future so that residents can further discuss the plans to support the community over the coming decades.”