Astonishment over new dwarf seawall helping to save Llandudno from disaster

In July, work began on upgrading some of Llandudno’s sea defences to safeguard 6,000 properties from flooding. One completed project has left people open-mouthed in astonishment.

A thigh-high wall on the resort’s West Shore became the butt of jokes after it was extended 50 metres. Instead of raising its height, as some residents expected, the wall has retained its diminutive size. In places, it's even shrunk: one end towers just a few inches above the ground, small even for a dwarf wall.

Faced with on-shore sand drifting and the prospect of over-topping waves, it’s been labelled a “trip hazard” and “about as useful as a chocolate teapot”. Tongue firmly in cheek, some have wondered if the Great Wall of China needs to be worried by the competition.

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The work was designed to address “weak spots” within current defences on the resort’s West Shore. It followed coastal flood modelling carried out over 12 months on behalf of Conwy Council. Largely, the scheme involved a series of small-scale improvements at various locations.

Seven stop logs – removable flood barriers – have been reinstated in wall gaps to create a continuous protective barrier. Higher car park kerbs were installed, alongside which the ground was raised to “increase resilience during periods of overtopping”. A new access ramp was also in the designs.

But it was the extended wall along West Parade that has mildly shocked residents, long accustomed to warnings about rising seas threatening the low-lying resort. “That wall is going to save Llandudno?” wondered an incredulous resident online. “Must be a lot of relieved homeowners,” chuckled another.

It was dubbed “Canute’s Wall” in deference to the Shakespearean royal and the futility of trying to defeat nature. People derided it as “pathetic”, saying the only beneficiaries will be local dogs out on a walk. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone

“That wouldn’t stop a sneeze, never mind the tide,” said one woman on social media. Another said: “What an actual embarrassment. Everyone wants wall defences to stop tides - I could do a better job with a sieve.” One man noted: “It’s going to confuse the f*** out of a guide dog.”

In reality, West Parade’s low wall is the third line of defence on the West Shore. The main seafront wave-return wall is backed by a secondary wall to form a promenade, with an expanse of sandy grass separating this from the tertiary wall. Cracks and loose coping stones on the walls were also repaired in late summer.

The three-wall system peters out at West Shore Beach Cafe, having been designed the safeguard the shoreline’s most vulnerable point as tides sweep up towards the Great Orme. The layered defences were intended to trap and re-direct over-topping water and sand to prevent further incursions into the resort.

Storm-blown sand has long been an issue in the area. At one time a stretch of net fencing was part-installed to trap wind-blown sand, until residents demanded it be taken down. In the early 1990s, in an attempt to prevent sand blowing into homes, gardens and drains, 40 lorries trucked in shingle for a month to cover the beach. Yet, even now, paths are still covered and homeowners occasionally have to dig themselves out.

Part of the West Shore defences include its boating lake. Each winter it's drained, partly to mitigate risks to the public should it freeze over, and this is a bone of contention with local model yachts enthusiasts who want to continue racing. Although Conwy Council agreed to delay emptying the lake until December 2, the newly formed Great Orme Model Yacht Club (GOMYC) has been pressing for a further extension.

Following talks, a compromise has now been reached, enabling GOMYC to continue with its "Frost Bite" race series until the lake is drained in January. But the club added: "If we get a deep depression or abnormal storm forecast in December, the council reserves the right to drain the lake as it forms part of the local flood defence system."

Work on improving sea defences on Llandudno’s North Shore got underway in September. Like those on the West Shore, these are being extended, rather than raised, to prevent existing structures being “outflanked” during storms. Seawall extensions are being built by the Craig-y-Don paddling pool with floodgates and access ramps.

West Shore residents hope these structures will be more imposing than their extended wall. After a summer of disruption on local roads, some people have been less than impressed. “It took most of summer for this amazing wall to be built!” fumed one man. Another agreed: “I’ve had a construction site over the road all summer just for this ffs.” A third added: “Months building a wonky wall for no reason! OK!”

For Llandudno’s coastal improvements, the Welsh Government approved Conwy Council’s business case in March. Up to £5.2m was pledged to ease the risk to 4,982 homes and 1,056 commercial premises considered vulnerable to flooding in the next 50 years.

Size isn’t everything, as some West Shore residents have remarked about their vertically-challenged walls. One woman said: “I am really pleased that they are not going to alter the views at West Shore, which I adore.” Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

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