A £2.6m scheme to tackle flooding at the Lower Priory and Havens Head area of Milford Haven, which saw heavy flooding back in 2018, could be nearing completion, after years of planning and community anticipation, senior councillors have heard this month.

The November 2018 flooding at Lower Priory and Havens Head saw flood water as high as eight feet, devastating homes and residents’ lives.

Local residents have previously told their harrowing experiences of the 2018 flooding.

Sarah Rees, of Havens Head, has previously described the scenes during the November 2018 floods: “The water was crystal clear, like being in a bath; and then suddenly the brown came in.

“Every time it rains the first thing that enters your head is what’s the pond condition?

“It was pitch black, all the electricity had gone out; we had to try and get out of the back, trying to find the steps to get out of the garden.

“I had my daughter with me, she just had time to grab her A-level books and go; we were trying to get out of that house. The force of the water, you can still feel it.

“We had to try and get out of the garden in Havens Head, it was the most terrifying experience of my life,” she added.

Since then, progress in delivering a scheme to address the flooding issues for residents has been slow, but Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet meeting of December 1 heard from Cabinet Member for Residents Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett that it was “very close to getting this over the line”.

While Milford Haven Port Authority has done its own works in the area, a 2020 scheme for council works was identified in the form of the Havens Head Culvert, with Welsh Government support.

A report for members at that meeting asked for them to agree an increase in council match-funding following a successful tender, with 15 per cent county council and 85 per cent Welsh Government funding; confirmation of the final stages of the process being awaited.

If the scheme gets the final approval the total value is costed at £2,629,638 for the construction, made up of £2,235,192 in funding with a council contribution of £394,446 over two financial years.

“It’s right for us to finish the job here, so many reports have been written over the last seven years,” said Cllr Sinnett.

“If we can agree this today it will go to Welsh Government for the final sign-off,” he added.

Members at the meeting agreed to back the recommendation, that, provided the final design and business case is approved by Welsh Government the council would contribute its match-funding element.

The recommendation also said that if funding is not secured, a special grant application be submitted.

Cllr Guy Woodham, a fellow Milford area county councillor to Cllr Sinnett, said at the meeting: “This has been rumbling on for a good many years, it’s good to see something happening.”