Monmouthshire adopts new flood plan, but funding remains unresolved

Monmouthshire County Council has adopted a new local flood risk strategy and action plan after a public consultation. The documents will now be sent to the Welsh Government for ministerial approval.

What the council controls

The local strategy covers flooding from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. Natural Resources Wales remains responsible for flood risk from main rivers, including the Monnow, Wye and Usk, so delivery depends on several public bodies working together.

The actions in the plan

The council says the approach will combine sustainable drainage, natural flood management, environmental improvements and community preparedness. It also moves to catchment-based planning so risks and projects can be considered across a whole river or drainage area.

The strategy replaces the council’s previous flood strategy and flood risk management plan. A consolidated Flood Action Plan is intended to connect the long-term objectives with practical tasks and named partner organisations.

What remains uncertain

Approval does not provide a new pot of money by itself. The council announcement does not give a total implementation cost or identify funding for every action. Welsh Government approval is also outstanding, so the adopted local plan is not yet the final ministerially approved version.

The useful test will be whether individual schemes gain budgets, delivery dates and progress reports. Without those details, the strategy sets direction and responsibility but cannot show how quickly risk will fall in the communities most exposed to flooding.