Environment Minister John Griffiths has approved a Welsh Government grant of £6m to fund the second phase of coastal protection works at Colwyn Bay.

Once completed, this scheme will protect the town of Colwyn Bay, including over 180 properties, the A55 Expressway and North Wales Coast Railway.

Colwyn Bay's seafront, between Rhos Point and Tan Penmaen Head, is 5.6 kms (3.5 mls) and much of its defences were constructed in the late nineteenth century. Due to falling beach levels the defences have become increasingly exposed to storms, resulting in increased damage and risk of failure.

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Colwyn County Borough Council has developed a long term sustainable coastal defence strategy for the town’s seafront. Plans include an iconic new water sports facility to support tourism and benefit the local community.

This phase of the works involves bringing in over 300,000 cubic metres of sand to raise beach levels west of the water sports centre and placing rock at the base of the seawall the east.

Mr Griffiths, said: "The Welsh Government is committed to action that safeguards and benefits people and their communities. I am pleased to announce this funding which will enable work to progress on this important project, which I look forward to seeing first hand later this year.

"One in six Welsh properties is at risk of flooding and we recognise that as the climate changes and sea levels rise, flood and coastal erosion risk is set to increase. We are working to address this and are investing more than £155m in flood and coastal erosion management over the life of this Assembly.

"I will be holding a flood summit in early March to address the key issues Wales faces in managing the threats posed by flooding."

(CD/GK)