The Welsh Government has “abandoned local businesses,” a Senedd member has said, after hearing no flood defences will be installed along The Quay in Carmarthen.

This follows a Written Question submitted to the Welsh Government’s Climate Change Minister by Samuel Kurtz MS, local Senedd Member for Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire.

Businesses on The Quay on the banks of the River Towy have been repeatedly flooded in recent years, with several public meetings being held to find a resolution to resolve this matter.

Samuel Kurtz MS has claimed that the Welsh Government has “abandoned local businesses and shown a clear disregard for our communities”.

In her response to Mr Kurtz’s Written Question on what flood mitigation measures exist for the quay, Carmarthen town, following the serious flooding experienced in January 202, Climate Change Minister Julie James MS had said: “The decision on whether a flood alleviation project is brought forward at Carmarthen Quay rests with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) as the RMA for main rivers.

“The Quay in Carmarthen was constructed deliberately lower than other parts of the area to maximise access to the tidal reach of the river for loading and unloading vessels, a legacy of its industrial background.

“As a consequence, it will always be at risk of flooding. Investing in flood alleviation measures at the Quay would mean diverting funding away from high-risk communities elsewhere in Wales.”

Samuel Kurtz MS said: “This is a hugely frustrating response from the Welsh Government. Every flood that occurs on The Quay has a severe impact on businesses and livelihoods; a notion that the Welsh Government appears to have scant regard for.

“I am concerned that the Welsh Government seems to be prioritising one community over another, what message does this give to those businesses whose premises are affected whenever the river bursts its banks? Flood protection should not be presented as an either-or issue by the Welsh Government.

“Whilst this response is hugely disappointing, I will continue to fight for our local businesses along The Quay in Carmarthen to ensure that they are better equipped to defend their properties against high water levels.”