A SCHEME designed to protect a Meirionnydd village from rising sea levels with thousands of tonnes of rocks is well under way.

Work to repair the sea defences at Friog Corner, Fairbourne is progressing well, according to Natural Resources Wales.

The project’s contractors are installing around 20,000 tonnes of rock armour to protect the village at Friog Corner.

The work is being undertaken by Jones Bros.

Project manager Geraint Lloyd was at a drop-in session in the village on Friday, 18 January, to discuss progress.

So far, some 10,500 tonnes of rock, to be used in the reinstatement of the sea defence, have been carried to the site.

Penrhyn Drive south is being operated as a one-way system during the works to allow construction activities to be carried out safely and to minimise risk to the public.

By early February NRW expects that all the rock will have been brought in by the lorries.

The sea defence installation work, which started in December, is progressing and the project is on course for completion by April 2019, subject to weather and tidal conditions.

Sian Williams, head of operations in North Wales for Natural Resources Wales, said: “We are committed to maintaining and monitoring Fairbourne’s flood defence in the short and medium term to help reduce the risk of flooding.

“Repairing the defences at Friog corner is part of this ongoing commitment.

“We are very grateful to the local community for their patience and co-operation.

“We apologise for the disruption to local residents near Friog Corner, Friog and Fairbourne during the work.”