National Assembly for Wales

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill to enforce the maintenance of watercourses, ditches, culverts, and drains on private and public land.

2. Notes the purpose of the Bill would be to:

a) address the increasing risk of flooding due to the climate emergency;

b) improve public knowledge of responsibility regarding flood prevention; 

c) ensure landowners are aware of their responsibility to maintain ditches, culverts and drains, and provide clarity over which public body is responsible for enforcement;

d) improve awareness of proper management of land for water capture;

e) introduce the mapping of drains, culverts and ditches to help community flood groups know which authority or landowner is liable for enforcing or clearing; and

f) promote local and national initiatives such as flood alerts and community flood groups and promote information regarding flood defences including sandbags.