A multi-million pound flood risk management scheme designed to reduce the flood risk for over 380 properties in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, has been officially opened.

First Minister Eluned Morgan MS and Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies MS visited the town to mark the completion of the project and met members of the community set to benefit from the £6 million project.

Ammanford has experienced several flood events during the last 40 years, with past events between 1979 and 2009 causing significant damage to homes, roads, and railway lines.

Without the intervention of Natural Resources Wales, 223 properties (198 homes and 25 businesses) in the town would have remained at risk of flooding in an extreme flood event (1% annual chance), with road and rail infrastructure at risk of being severely affected. This figure would have increased to 386 properties over the next century when climate change impacts are taken into consideration.

Huwel Manley, Head of South West Operations said:

“While we will never be able to stop all flooding, we have delivered a robust scheme in Ammanford which will significantly reduce that risk. The completion of this scheme marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to safeguard communities from the impacts of climate change, providing effective, long-term peace of mind for those who live and work here, and bringing wider ecological and community benefits, making Ammanford a more resilient and thriving place for its residents for years to come.”