THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARDl
The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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A couple of hundred years ago on the land where Rhyl stands there was nothing resembling a town; there were a few country houses, some farms and fishermen’s cottages. Most of the area was muddy wasteland until a flood defence and drainage scheme was instigated, which improved the land well enough to be sold off for development. The strips of land nearest the sea were advertised as suitable for tourist development and so the resort of Rhyl was born.
The sea may well have the land back off us in due course. In this country we build to the edge of the water leaving no room for the sea to breathe in and out over the millennia. By the end of this century the sea level may have risen by one-and-a-half metres (or by more if we fail to achieve massive cuts in carbon emissions). So what now – more flood defence schemes? An evacuation programme to move people away from the sea?
The local effects of climate change and how to slow them down, the harnessing of tidal power to produce electricity, and related matters were discussed on 3rd April at Rhyl Town Hall. Not many members of the public went, I didn’t bother to go. We'd better get interested soon. The maritime clock is ticking.
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