Image by Ian Cooper

First published on 01/01/24

The future of a Welsh village has been in question for years with fears that it will be reclaimed by the sea due to climate change and flooding. Villagers have even been described in some reports as the people who will one day become the UK’s first ever “climate refugees" – but not all of them want the label. Low-lying Fairbourne faces the risk of flooding from three different places: the sea, an estuary close by, and river that descends from the hills. Over the next 30 years there will likely be a significant increase in the risk of floods with Gwynedd Council warning locals it could become uninhabitable by mid-century.

The council also suggested in 2014 that there were plans to "decommission" the entire village – tearing down all the buildings, roads, stores, and other infrastructure and returning the area to marshland – which has so far not been carried out. But while an uncertain path lies ahead lots of villagers are still going about their daily routines.

A decade on from the "decommissioning" prospect and people have grown tired of the conversation, it seems, and weary at the idea of their homes being written off so soon. All but a few residents approached recently by WalesOnline were willing to give their views on the issue.

“We don’t want to think about it any more. Not until something is done. We just want to live our lives normally without negative attention,” one shop owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

While Gwynedd Council is currently carrying out various initiatives, such as adopting a project board to examine the implications of climate change for communities in the county like Fairbourne, no promises have been made to protect the village indefinitely. Read the full piece here.