Madam,

I have read in your paper with interest the story of ‘A day in the life’ telling of Annett Birkett, a consultant engineer in flooding, land drainage and coastal defence, which in itself is quite a mouthful (‘Demanding and challenging but no two days are the same’, Cambrian News, 29 November). It seems she does not work directly for the Ceredigion Council but as a freelance consultant!

I have no stones to throw only that I am a boat owner who sees the harbour in Aberaeron falling apart for the lack of action to maintain the harbour and the river, and all rivers that flow into the sea. This problem is known by all who feel the effects of the neglect of such rivers in flooding of their properties or damage through debris, eg trees, on boats in the Aberaeron Harbour.

This will keep on happening after a dry spell and a downpour of rain. The water level rises and trees and debris will be swept away to block up the river flow and flood or damage the boats in the area.

As stated in your column there is no compunction for responsibility for any of the riverside owners and this will remain so unless laws are introduced or grants available from Government funds to do so. There was once a national policy to dredge rivers on their final flows into harbours and such like. In the case of the Aberaeron Harbour where the river has been man-made and the final outlet has been channeled to turn into the harbour and thus expelling all the debris and trees, this is a recurring factor and the Pwll Cam cob/wall that juts out for its entrance and the large bolders that are placed between the bridge, that deflect the river and its debris into the harbour, in turn churns the harbour chains and sinks boats!

This and many other problems of river management should be recognised. If only council and government agencies talked with the riverside owners. Then they need to get a grant from government to help. But the lack of money, with no legal commitment for responsibility makes the public the losers! There are, however, winners and they are the insurance companies and they will remain so unless someone or a body decides to contest the burden of responsibility on the river side owners or the council.

I, like many other people, am affected through someone else’s neglect to maintain the rivers and waterways of our county.

I am not saying that Annett Birkett does not have the best intentions in her employment. Her actions and effects are likened to a grain of sand on our beaches and, unless they are working to hold together, they and any such actions she wishes to have will be swept away on the tide!

Yours etc,

Mohammad Tahla, Llanarth.

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