THE start of a £700,000 flood protection scheme which was delayed due to Storm Ciara is getting underway in Felinheli.

The Beach Road work, which had been due to start on February 10, will help protect homes, the highway and businesses in the village.

It aims to protect the area from tidal flooding and the risk posed by rising sea levels.

A new sea wall is being constructed, set back from the shoreline alongside Beach Road.

Th project, scheduled to be complete by June, 2020, includes drainage improvements at the bottom of Snowdon Street.

The Gwynedd Council project has been jointly funded by the Council and the Welsh Government.

Councillor Catrin Wager, Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for the council’s YGC department (Ymgynghoriaeth Gwynedd Consultancy) managing the project said: “I’m delighted that funding has been secured for this important project in Felinheli.

"This area of the village has experienced flooding from the nearby Menai Strait in the past which has posed a risk to nearby properties.

“Property owners have been consulted and kept informed throughout the design stage and a ‘meet the contractor’ event was recently held in the village which was well-attended.

"We realise that the construction phase which is getting underway will cause some short-term disruption, but we firmly believe that residents will benefit when the work is complete.

She added: “We have all seen the recent storms that have had such a devastating impact on communities, and with the effects of climate change the likelihood of floods affecting communities is increasing.

"We are therefore very pleased to see work getting underway."

Councillor Gareth Griffith, who represents Felinheli on Gwynedd Council added:

“As a local member, I’m very pleased to see this working moving ahead.

"People who live in this area of Felinheli have seen water coming over from the Menai Strait and the recent storms where properties in other parts of the country have been flooded remind us all of the impact it can have on people’s homes.”

Anglesey firm, OBR Construction, from Talwrn, is contracted to carry out the work. It aims to keep disruption to a minimum.

There will be some temporary road closures while drainage work is ongoing and periodic traffic management.

The playground and footpath along the shoreline may also need to be temporarily shut.

Access to properties and businesses will be maintained at all times, with temporary diversions periodically.

For scheme information contact Elspeth Moncure at OBR Construction Ltd: 01248 667066 or elspeth.moncure@obrconstruction.com for site-related queries or contact the council flood team on 01286 679591 more information.