But a source, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the Daily Post: “There is a shortfall in resources (staff) in flood defence, especially at the Rhuddlan depot.
“If we are to be subject to a serious flood like what we had at St Asaph – backed up by high tides – they haven’t the manpower to cover it. They can’t staff it.
“There have been early retirements at very enhanced rates. Flood defence is a concern if we have very serious floods.”
The source also said there were concerns about the shortage of water bailiffs being employed to catch poachers.
“They have laid off so many men,” he said.
“There’s one man in Machynlleth covering fisheries and environment crime in south Meirionnydd, the upper Severn and Aberystwyth.”
The insider said the NRW’s possible explanation for fewer water bailiffs would be because it was now acting on “intelligence-led” information.
He added that concerns about staff shortages had now come to the attention of Environment Minister and Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths, who had called in NRW managers to explain the problems.
In response, Sian Williams, NRW’s North Wales head of operations, said: “While it is true that we have reduced the number of people we employ during recent years, reducing flood risk for people and looking after migratory fish in our rivers remain priorities for us.
“We are aware of the high risks flooding can bring to our communities, and are currently reviewing our capacity with the intention of boosting staff numbers during the winter months.
A repeat of the devastating 2012 floods in St Asaph would be more difficult to tackle because of staff cuts, an insider has claimed.
One woman drowned and nearly 400 people were forced from their homes in the floods which devastated the city.
This autumn, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru/ Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is spending £3m on replacing Spring Gardens Bridge with a wider bridge and improving flood defences.
But a source, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the Daily Post: “There is a shortfall in resources (staff) in flood defence, especially at the Rhuddlan depot.
“If we are to be subject to a serious flood like what we had at St Asaph – backed up by high tides – they haven’t the manpower to cover it. They can’t staff it.
“There have been early retirements at very enhanced rates. Flood defence is a concern if we have very serious floods.”
The source also said there were concerns about the shortage of water bailiffs being employed to catch poachers.
“They have laid off so many men,” he said.
“There’s one man in Machynlleth covering fisheries and environment crime in south Meirionnydd, the upper Severn and Aberystwyth.”
The insider said the NRW’s possible explanation for fewer water bailiffs would be because it was now acting on “intelligence-led” information.
He added that concerns about staff shortages had now come to the attention of Environment Minister and Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths, who had called in NRW managers to explain the problems.
In response, Sian Williams, NRW’s North Wales head of operations, said: “While it is true that we have reduced the number of people we employ during recent years, reducing flood risk for people and looking after migratory fish in our rivers remain priorities for us.
“We are aware of the high risks flooding can bring to our communities, and are currently reviewing our capacity with the intention of boosting staff numbers during the winter months.
“It’s also important to understand that, while we work to reduce the risk of flooding, we can’t prevent it from happening altogether.
“When flooding does threaten, we provide flood warnings for communities at risk so people can prepare appropriately.
“Changing times and a reducing budget mean that the days when bailiffs walked up and down our riverbanks are gone, and they are unlikely to return.
“We have not reduced the number of fisheries enforcement officers for several years, but may review the areas they work from time to time due to changes in demand.
“It is incorrect to say that large-scale poaching is devastating our rivers.
“Decades of enforcement action has reduced the number of serious cases drastically.
“Despite rumours and allegations, there is no evidence to show that the large-scale poaching of previous decades is an ongoing problem.
“We obviously remain vigilant and take any reports seriously.
“A number of cases of illegal fishing do end up in court every year in north Wales.”
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