£40m Newgale road scheme faces scrutiny as community backs cheaper alternative

The Newgale Coastal Adaptation Project, led by Pembrokeshire County Council and consultants AtkinsRéalis, proposes a new inland section of the A487, including a bridge over Brandy Brook, to replace the flood-prone coastal route. The plan follows repeated storm damage in 2014 and 2020, including a high-profile incident in which a bus was hit by a wave and stranded in floodwater — leading to the rescue of 10 passengers.

As previously reported by Swansea Bay News, preparatory work began in 2021 to assess soil and road conditions, with engineers gathering data to refine the preferred route. The council has cited climate change and coastal erosion as key drivers behind the scheme, warning that the existing road may become impassable and unsafe in the coming years.

In fact, councillors were told in 2014 that the storm-battered village of Newgale is unlikely to exist in its current form within 60 years, with a “managed retreat” of infrastructure and housing considered inevitable.

However, the scheme has drawn criticism over its cost and impact. Local campaign group STUN (Stand Up for Newgale) has proposed a far cheaper alternative: realigning a section of the shingle bank 10–12 metres seaward to create an over-wash barrier between the bank and the A487, designed to capture pebbles and sea water during storms.

The alternative proposal will be raised at the 17 July council meeting by Gareth Chapman, chair of Solva Community Council, who argues that the STUN scheme offers up to 85 years of protection at a fraction of the cost. He also questions the necessity of the inland diversion, noting that flooding often results from blocked river outlets rather than coastal breaches.

Chapman’s formal question to the council calls for a full examination of the STUN proposal under WelTAG (Welsh Government Transport Appraisal Guidance) and asks for written feedback to be provided to Solva Community Council within 14 days of the meeting.

Critics of the council’s plan say it risks altering the character of Newgale and its iconic views, and that public opinion has not been adequately considered. The council has already spent millions on consultation fees, with some estimates placing the total cost of the scheme as high as £60 million.

The outcome of the meeting could determine whether the council proceeds with its current plans or reconsiders the community-led alternative.

Swansea Bay News will continue to follow developments as the debate unfolds.

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