Large trucks move sand to protect Pwllheli from flooding, causing noise and disruption for residents.
They truck sand from near Gimblet Rock along the seafront to Traeth Crugan, strengthening existing rock barriers. This should improve flood defenses, as Natural Resources Wales sees significant flood risks to Pwllheli’s west and east, as well as the harbor and town center.
The work, done by Jones Bros Civil Engineering, started on February 3rd. Trucking finished ahead of schedule on February 10th, helped by good weather. Some residents find the trucks noisy and disruptive.
One person described it as a “war zone” due to the noise, but Cyngor Gwynedd knew there would be problems and apologized. They also hauled some material by road, increasing traffic.
Dewi Cullen apologized for the trucks, saying it was the only way to move the sand and protect the dunes and Pwllheli from flooding. NRW plans long-term flood protection, with ideas including raising harbor walls and moving defenses.
They could also divert a river or install an outer harbor gate. Some roads could be raised, or new defenses built west of Pwllheli, potentially moving the coastline inland. NRW seeks funding approval in 2025.
Some doubt the beach work will last, saying tides will wash the sand away or the wind will move it. They believe a stone wall would work better, pointing to Pwllheli harbor’s frequent silting.
The marina needs dredging each year; a 2016 plan said 20,000 cu meters must be removed yearly to avert trouble for the harbor and marina. They used to reclaim land with the silt.
Cyngor Gwynedd said the sand protects the resort, using capital funding for the work. The beach nourishment is important for flood protection and is part of a wider defense strategy; work finished ahead of schedule.