Minister for Natural Resources, Alun Davies, has announced the detail of how an additional £20 million will be spent on vital flood and coastal defence improvements that will help protect over 2,000 Welsh homes and businesses.

The significant investment will fund the following schemes in south and north Wales and will be delivered by Natural Resources Wales:

• £7 million for flood defence improvements to protect 627 homes and 72 businesses in Crindau, Newport

• £6 million for river management works and improvements to tidal defences to reduce flood risk for 387 homes, 52 businesses and the fire station in Roath, Cardiff

• £1 million to fund the replacement of flood defence walls that will help protect 127 homes, 15 businesses and the main road through Penclawdd, Swansea

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• £1 million for improvements to tidal embankments along the Severn Estuary to reduce the flood risk to part of the M4 motorway, 833 houses and 197 businesses in Portland Ground and Tabbs Gouth, Newport

• £5 million to improve existing flood defence walls that will help protect 166 homes, 102 businesses, the fire station and ambulance station in Dolgellau, Gwynedd

Commenting on the additional funding which was announced last week as part of the Welsh Government’s Draft Budget, the Minister said: "Last year was one of the wettest on record and resulted in many homes and businesses in mid and north Wales being badly affected by flooding.

"While we cannot stop or fully prevent flooding, we are doing all we can we to manage the risks and reduce the consequences. That is why we have already committed to investing over £180 million in flood and coastal erosion risk management over the life of this Assembly.

"This additional funding will help to protect nearly over 2,000 Welsh homes and businesses that are vulnerable to flood risk. Not only that, but it will also help to create and secure local jobs within the construction industry."

(CD/IT)