The issue of contradictory advice on planning policies was raised by Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Assembly Member, Angela Burns, during First Minister’s Questions in the Senedd on Tuesday.

The problem centres around councils and Government allowing homes to be built in areas that have a real risk of flooding because of national targets or the profit that development land can deliver. Yet in other instances the very same policy is used to prevent business expansion because of the risk of flooding

During a heated debate with the First Minister, Mrs. Burns said: “When are you and your Government going to get to grips with planning policy? You have a policy that enables councils to allow house builders to develop in areas of flood risk as evidenced by the builds in my constituency that have suffered from being flooded in the past three months let alone the past few years..….”

Speaking afterwards, Mrs. Burns said: “This is such a serious issue, but the Welsh Government are dragging their heels over sorting it out. We’ve seen flooding in Tenby and Llansteffan, Amroth and areas around St. Clears to name just a few instances. Houses are built, communities are undefended, flood defences delayed because their risk is deemed low. And yet the same policy that allows that development stops a multi-million pound business expansion which has an even lower level of risk. A business expansion that would have brought another 150 jobs to Carmarthenshire and made west Wales a centre for film and music.

“Its illogical and contradictory, I was shocked by the First Minister’s response and his refusal to recognise that contradictory planning guidance is being used as a tool to stifle business growth, but doesn’t protect homes.”