Following commencement of the Aberaeron North Beach Coast Protection Scheme - a scheme worth £5.35million - Ceredigion County Council has announced it now intends to arrange a public exhibition in Aberaeron during February 2009 to provide further information on the works being undertaken and also to seek the public’s views with regard to the defence options being considered for Aberaeron's harbour area.

The harbour works will form the second and final stage of the Aberaeron tidal flood defences. The dates of the public exhibition will be announced in the New Year. The public’s attendance and opinion on the proposals at that time would be welcomed.

County Councillor Ray Quant, the Ceredigion Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Highways, Property and Works portfolio, commented: "We are pleased that Ceredigion County Council has successfully obtained funding support from the Welsh Assembly Government to proceed with a £5.35million Coast Protection Scheme for Aberaeron's North Beach. However, before the tidal flood defences for the town are complete, various options for the protection of the harbour need to be considered. We are very keen therefore that the public have an opportunity to influence our choice of the preferred option to protect Aberaeron into the future." Ceredigion County Council has successfully obtained funding support from the Welsh Assembly Government to proceed with a £5.35 million Coast Protection Scheme for Aberaeron's North Beach.

The Aberaeron North Beach Coast Protection Scheme comprises the following work: * Replacement of the existing groyne field with 9 new timber groynes and 2 new additional rock groynes; * Placing large (3-6 tonne) rocks within and along the rear of the beach to provide a hard revetment backstop. The displaced shingle will then be placed on top of the toe of the rock revetment and the resultant slope graded from the back of the beach towards the seaward end of the groynes; * New concrete access steps are to be provided to each groyne bay of the beach and a vehicle access ramp for beach maintenance is to be placed opposite the Dwr Cymru - Welsh Water pumping station; * A low concrete promenade wall will be placed in front of Glanymor and the promenade wall from there to the harbour area will be raised, to provide flood protection, with a series of steps behind for viewing purposes; and ∑ A flood wall will be constructed inland from the coastal defences along the northern boundary of the Aeron Coast Caravan Site.

The contractor appointed to undertake the Aberaeron North Beach Coast Protection Scheme works is BAM Nuttall and the site agent is Mr Ray Jones. Site preparation works have recently commenced and the main construction work is due to start in mid-February with completion due by mid September 2009. Works will commence at the southern, Harbour, end of the works, proceeding northwards along the beach.

To minimise the impact of construction traffic within Aberaeron Town, BAM Nuttall is establishing its Main Site Offices at the Aberaeron Rugby Club and Drefach area and constructing an access road from the A487. A satellite office and welfare facilities will occupy a portion of the North Beach Car Park.

There will be some construction traffic using Tabernacle Street and Regent Street and to ease the flow of traffic a temporary parking restriction order is being implemented on these roads as from the 12th January 2009.

Documents and drawings describing the Aberaeron North Beach Coast Protection Scheme were available for public consultation at the County Hall, Market Street, Aberaeron, SA46 0AT between 21 May and 20 June 2008 and also between 24 July and 22 August 2008.