Meeting leads to progress on internal drainage issues

NFU members have had a meeting with Dafydd Roberts, the Environment Agency's project manager for Internal Drainage Districts (IDD) who will identify the priorities to be pursued.

Mr Trefor Hughes, NFU Meirionnydd County Chairman who has land in the Harlech Internal Drainage District said, “Summer and autumn 2012 have seen a spell of unprecedented wet weather and this, coupled with a delayed start by the EA in ditch maintenance this year, has resulted in unacceptable problems for the low lying farmland.

“What we need are local decisions for a maintenance and improvement programme over the next five years for Internal Drainage Districts. Timeliness of the maintenance work is also critical and this could be achieved by using more local contractors to do the work.

“For the ditches to work effectively in some areas, there also needs to be some capital investment in sluices, pumping stations and the de-silting of estuaries into which the water drains.”

Mr Hughes said it was essential that the EA Wales, soon to become part of the single body Natural Resources Wales, does not lose sight of the fact that internal drainage work is often linked closely to flood alleviation. “By looking after these highly engineered areas you are mitigating flooding and drainage problems in one go,” he said.

“We are pleased that Dafydd Roberts, following points made through the local knowledge of landowners and occupiers, will be looking at issues raised at the meeting over the next few weeks with a view to identifying priorities to put together a programme of works for all Internal Drainage Districts, currently administered by the Environment Agency. NFU Cymru looks forward to working with him on these matters,” Mr Hughes added.