MONMOUTHSHIRE County Council has launched a new public consultation to gather views on its draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

The draft strategy sets out how the council manages the risk of flooding from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses.

The consultation, hosted on the council’s engagement platform Let’s Talk Monmouthshire, invites residents, businesses, and stakeholders to help shape the county’s approach to local flood risk management.

The council’s first Local Flood Risk Management Strategy was published in 2013, setting out our overarching approach to managing local flood risk. Alongside our Local Strategy, MCC published a Flood Risk Management Plan in 2016.

Since the publication of these key documents, the Welsh Government has updated its National Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management. New legislation and major flood events have further informed our understanding of local risks.

In response, the council has drafted a revised Local Strategy to manage surface water, groundwater, and ordinary watercourse flooding over the next six years.

The community of Monmouthshire have been given the opportunity to share their views, visit Let’s Talk Monmouthshire before Friday, September 26, to review the proposed strategy and complete a short survey to share your local knowledge and ideas on how the council can support communities, infrastructure, and the natural environment from future flood risks.

Cllr Catrin Maby, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment, said: “We know that flooding can have devastating impacts on people’s lives and livelihoods. This consultation is a vital step in ensuring our flood risk strategy reflects the needs and experiences of our communities.”

“We want to hear from as many people as possible.”