Consultation open on plans for storm-battered coast road

A public consultation has been launched for a proposed “inland realignment” of a storm-battered coast road that is vulnerable to heavy flooding.

The A487 in Newgale, Pembrokeshire, runs next to a large shingle bank which risks becoming unsustainable as a flood defence, Pembrokeshire County Council has said.

It has opened a consultation on phase one of its plans, which would see the development of a new inland section of the road with a bridge, replacing the coastal part of the road that would be closed and removed.

Newgale was heavily hit by flooding following storms in early 2014, leading to a visit by then-prime minister David Cameron, and again by Storm Dennis in 2020.

In 2018, the council backed a long-term recommendation for an inland highway link for the A487 involving “managed realignment” that would see the coastline moved inland.

Phase one of the proposal includes:

• Rerouting the Newgale section of the A487
• Creating a new cycling and walking path through Newgale
• Changing access to the beach and coastal businesses
• Releasing space for the beach to adapt to coastal change

The council said the changes were needed due to flooding and storms throwing “shingle onto the road, which can cause flooding of the land behind”, as well as causing temporary closure of the road until the shingles can be cleared.

It added that maintaining the shingle ridge as a flood defence is “highly likely to be unsustainable” beyond 2035, or even 2030.

“Early action is required before the road becomes impassable and unsafe,” the council said.

Proposals have said costs could reach as high as £40m, with consultation costs to date having cost around £2m.

Cameron visited the area in February 2014, pledging to work with the Welsh government to work on flood defences.

Weeks earlier 10 people had to be rescued from a bus on the seafront which was hit by a large wave.

The public consultation on the council’s proposals is open until 11 May.