Get the biggest stories sent straight to your inbox Sign up for regular updates and breaking news from WalesOnline Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be sat in a deckchair in my back garden with the water up to my neck before I move out.”

What will your village, town or city look like in half a century? Most of us would probably imagine a more modern, populated and eco-friendly version of the environment we live in today.

But for one Welsh village the question is salient and immediate. And they have no idea what the answer is. But there's a chance it won't exist at all.

Fairbourne is a beautiful village. It sits on the coast of Barmouth Bay and its flat terrain is dominated by the backdrop of Snowdonia. But when you drive into the village from the north, the scale of its mountainous surroundings is not even visible through the mist.

In the face of tranquillity, there is a frenzy of activity ‘by the shops’. People are out and about. They’re talking, and they’re talking about one thing.

In 2013 Gwynedd Council decided that it could not defend Fairbourne from the elements in the long-term. It currently does, along with Natural Resources Wales, who have spent more than £6m on a flood risk management scheme in the area in the past four years.

However, a Shoreline Management Plan for the west of Wales, first commissioned by the Cardigan Bay Coastal Group in 2009, “raises significant concerns over the future sustainability of the defence of Fairbourne”.

(Image: Keith Morris)

The concerns are based on climate change and the speed at which it takes hold. Sea levels continue to rise. It’s estimated that current levels are more than 100 metres higher than during the last ice age, and that they could rise by a further two metres over the next century.

In short, there will be no money spent on defending this community of around 400 homes and 850 people after 2054. The harsh and unforgiving word ‘decommission’ has been banded about - the death of a community facilitated by its inhabitants being forced to move out, its shops closed down, its houses demolished to make way for salt marsh.

Gwynedd Council says it has not decided to ‘decommission’ Fairbourne, but they have also not ruled it out, admitting that such a step would “need to be considered”. What they have confirmed, however, is that relocating residents is a certainty.

(Image: Keith Morris)

Some people won’t be here to see it, while others are still hoping to be living and working here when the ‘masterplan’ - as it’s been called - kicks into action.

“It’s frustrating,” says Lauren Baynes, a 22-year-old who runs the village butcher’s with her partner.

“We have two young children. It would be nice to hand the business down to them one day and for the whole family to stay here - I’ve lived in the area my whole life and I’ve never known Fairbourne to flood badly.

“We’ve been open now and for three years and I want to stay here, long-term.”

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The ambiguity surrounding how and when drastic action is taken to save the people of Fairbourne from the sea is what alarms most of its residents. Estimates predict that the point of no return could be as early 2042, or earlier.

“I’ve never been spoken to about any of this,” says Lauren, whose butcher shop is a stone’s throw away from the sea wall.

“Nobody has said anything about what’s going to happen, or when, or how. There’s been no word on compensation or where we would all move to.”

The word compensation continues to rear its head, no matter who I speak to.

Can residents who privately own property and land just be expected to pack their bags, move out and find another place to live in a different part of the world, on the strength of what is ultimately a forecast, without being paid for the upheaval, the distress and the heartache of leaving their lives behind?

(Image: Keith Morris)

Currently, there are no measures in place for homeowners to receive compensation when they are made to relocate.

“Most people are seriously angry at how it’s been handled,” says Stuart Eves, chair of the local community council, who has lived in Fairbourne for 43 years.

“They’ve basically said ‘we’re going to come in and take this all down’. How can they say that based on supposition? Of course we realise that sea levels are rising, but at what rate? We know there’s going to be a problem, but what we don’t know is when.”

Nobody here is denying climate change. The difficulty is knowing when it will cause Fairbourne to succumb - 2042, 2092, a thousand years from now?

What is without doubt, however, is that climate change has already had an effect on the village because, I’m told, it has driven the council and the other bodies behind the Shoreline Management Plan into a decision which will “destroy it”.

“It’s destroyed the livelihood of the village,” adds Stuart. “You can’t get a mortgage here anymore. There’s lots of young people here who want to stay and buy houses, but they can’t. Banks won’t give them the money.

“But we’re a very resilient community. The county council tried to shut the public toilets recently and we managed to form a group that took them over.

"We run them now with the help of donations from the community, and they’re some of the best public toilets you’ll see. We don’t take things lying down here.

“Climate change is real and it’s affecting the whole world, but there are many other places that will go before Fairbourne. There are places along the same coastline that have flooded in recent years; some have been under a foot of water and we have barely flooded at all.

“I appreciate that the council have been put in a difficult position. If they didn’t’ do this and something terrible happened, the finger would be pointed at them. Now they are going ahead with it, if nothing terrible happens then the finger will still be pointed at them.

“It’s the way it’s been handled that’s the issue. This village is unique, it has an aura about it, an ambience. People come here and they fall in love with the place, but house prices have already fallen here because of this ‘masterplan’.

“We don’t know what things will be like in the future. But if the council turn to us one day and say ‘right, on this date you have to move out’ then they’re going to have one hell of a fight on their hands.”

(Image: Keith Morris) (Image: Keith Morris)

Councillor Catrin Wager, cabinet member at Gwynedd Council , says it is the “priority” of the authority to work with local people to “protect the social and economic viability of the village for as long as possible whilst also offering emotional and practical support to local people to deal with the situation the village will eventually face.”

One resident disagrees and says that, regardless of what may happen in 20 or so years’ time, Fairbourne has already been washed out.

“We feel the county council has abandoned us,” says Alan Wilde, a resident of 35 years.

“First, they closed the toilets. They also took away the concrete ramp down to the beach two years ago so there’s no safe access to our beach. The notice boards, which are essential to any holiday village, have been taken away and there’s no sign of them being replaced.

"They’re killing tourism and we feel abandoned. We’re totally in the dark.”

Hugh Harrison lives in a neighbouring street and makes an important point.

“If this village does flood then of course we will need help and support. But at the moment it’s not happening and doesn’t look like happening. Most people I speak to all say the same thing - 'if I want to live here then it’s up to me'.”

(Image: Keith Morris) (Image: Keith Morris)

Gwynedd Council say that discussions are ongoing to determine the best and safest way of executing their plan to relocate residents before 2054, when they say “sea level rises and changing weather patterns will mean that it will not be possible to further bolster the village’s sea defences”, a point when “the risk to residents will significantly increase”.

It says a “multi-agency project” has been established to address the complex issues that will eventually face Fairbourne.

“It is important to stress that Gwynedd Council has not decided to ‘decommission’ Fairbourne,” a spokesman said.

“Whilst decommissioning has been suggested, no firm decision has been made, and such a step will be a matter that will need to be considered by Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Government, Snowdonia National Park and the community itself.”

Councillor Wager added: “Climate change is happening, and it is unfortunately only a matter of time before it has a very real human impact on coastal communities like Fairbourne.

“By talking to the community sooner rather than later, our aim is to work through these difficult issues together in order to give ourselves as much time as possible to come up with viable options and the best possible solutions.

“Currently there is no legislative precedent or national funding stream for the so called ‘decommissioning’ of a whole community and as a council we are seeking assurances from the Welsh Government that these two issues will be addressed as soon as possible.”

(Image: Keith Morris) (Image: Keith Morris)

Roger and Christine Kingshott, originally from Derby, recently moved to Fairbourne. They are both in their 70s and love their new home, a footpath away from the sea wall. They don’t regret moving to the village, but know people who do.

“Someone I know who’s bought a property here has said it was a mistake, because she’s worried about her children’s inheritance,” says Christine.

“We intend to carry on enjoying it as we love it here. We can’t sell now anyway with all this going on so we might as well enjoy it.

"It’s our life and we don’t want to go anywhere. It’s an absolutely wonderful place."

(Image: Keith Morris)

Her husband Roger agrees, but says the issue has cast a cloud on what should have been a care-free existence in retirement, a period of life spent creating a legacy for their children and grandchildren to enjoy after they’re gone.

"Last winter was extremely wet but this street didn't flood. This house was built in the 1960s and it’s never flooded," says Roger.

“Everyone’s concerned. Nobody’s told us when or how this plan will happen, all we’ve heard is that there will be no compensation, and the issue is driving prices down. Nobody’s burying their heads in the sand, thinking that it’s too far away in the future - people are aware and they’re incensed.”

What Roger, Christine and the whole community wants, ultimately, is answers. A meeting has been called for June 26 at the village hall, where it is hoped the ‘masterplan’ outlining Fairbourne’s future, or lack of it, will be laid bare to all.