‘It’s the worst flooding we’ve seen in 50 years’
+ Homes wrecked and chaos on the roads as storm brings misery +
The full heartbreaking story:
FLOODING described as the “worst” in 50 years has wrecked homes in Maesteg and across the Bridgend borough.
Exceptionally heavy rain combined with debris washed off land by flood water, which blocked culverts, caused torrents of water to flow down streets, inundating homes as it went.
A massive clear-up operation has now begun after the floods hit in the early hours of Sunday.
Heavy rain also continued to fall on Monday, causing surface water flooding on roads across the region.
Bridgend council said front-line staff have been working around the clock to keep residents safe and repair damaged roads.
Insurance assessors have also begun visiting residents.
The council said culverts had been cleared in anticipation of the storm overnight on Saturday into Sunday, but had to be repeatedly unblocked as rivers overflowed and debris flowed into the culverts and streams.
It is understood trees, leaves, mud and possibly illegally-dumped waste kept re-blocking the drainage systems, which highways staff had to repeatedly clear out.
Kim and Jill Jenkins’ house in Talgarth Street, Garth, was flooded by more than a foot of water.
“We took the brunt of it in this street,” said Kim, 60, who works at the Bridgend Paper Mill in Llangynwyd.
His wife Jill, 54, an examination officer for Maesteg Comprehensive School, said: “We put some towels under the front door to stop it, but we quickly realised we couldn’t do anything about it.”
At its height the flood water was two to three feet deep and poured in through their letterbox.
It was so deep it lifted their massive fridge freezer and tipped it on its side.
The force of the water also set a running machine afloat and when Kim opened the back door to release the water pres- sure it was carried around 15ft down the garden on a torrent of water.
The entire downstairs of the couple’s home has been wrecked, but such was the force of the water the shocked pair are just glad they are here to tell the tale.
“I am just stunned by how much water came through. We are lucky that we are well insured, but it’s devastating,” said Jill.
“And you wouldn’t believe the amount of people who were here cleaning. It was absolutely amazing.”
Both she and Kim have blamed flytippers for dumping rubbish which blocked the culverts.
The downstairs of Pat and David Davies’ home of 50 years on Bridgend Road in Garth has been wrecked by water and sludge.
Even their mobile caravan, which was parked on their rear drive, has been flooded.
They have no electricity or land line phone, but having seen the devastation in their community they believe they are the lucky ones.
“The last time this area flooded badly was in 1954,” said tearful Pat, 71.
“I have never seen anything like this here. There’s something wrong that it has come down like this.”
The power of the water lifted and tipped a huge chest freezer in their outhouse, gas bottles, plastic bins and huge amounts of mud were also caught up in the flood water and now litter their garden and the downstairs.
A neighbour’s garden shed was set afloat and crashed into their house.
Walls were also demolished and on Heol Faen, just around the corner, cars were lifted up and crashed into each other.
Councillors Mal Reeves and Ceri Reeves, who were on the scene in the early hours of Sunday, said one family with four children, who only moved into their house on Saturday, were completely flooded out and also lost their car to tonnes of debris.
Both agree it is the worst flooding they have seen in around 50 years.
Coun Mal said: “When I first drove through it I thought this is bad. But 15 minutes later it was a massive torrent of water coming down and the amount of debris it was carrying, including barrels and tree branches, was incredible.
“It was quite frighten- ing. I knew I had to get off the road and others followed me.
“We are lucky there have been no tragedies.”
But the community is pulling together. The players from Maesteg Celtic RFC, many of which have vans, have offered to pick up broken appliances from residents and Coun Ceri Reeves has arranged for the council’s waste contractor Kier to waive strict rules at the local household amenity sites so they can be disposed of.
Coun Mal Reeves said: “We have liaised with social services and the council, but the main thing is how the community is coming together to help.
“A constituent of mine also took in a couple who were taken off their feet by the force of the water as they walked home by Talgarth Street. They even lost their shoes.”
Ogmore AM Huw Irranca-Davies said: “The response of local communities has been incredible, with neighbours as well as families and friends rallying round to offer practical help. Out of the despair of this flooding, we have seen the big heart of our communities on show again.”
On Heol Faen, Leah Watkin, 29, and partner Oliver Stapleton, who have sons aged five and three, have ripped out their sodden living room carpet and have started trying to dry the house out.
“You couldn’t walk across the water as it flowed past the house or it would have taken you to the bottom of the street,” said Oliver.
Residents of Cefn Nant, Hendre Road and Pant yr Ardwyn in Pencoed were also affected by a blocked culvert on Greenacres Drive and properties in Heol y Cyw, near Pencoed, were also flooded.
Flooding at the residential care home Ty Cwm Ogwr left the boiler out of action, but swift repairs were carried out to get it working again. The council’s home care and first contact teams are now checking to ensure that those who have been affected by the flooding are not vulnerable or require additional support.
Bridgend council said the dipping bridge at Merthyr Mawr remained closed to traffic on Monday after flooding and there were concerns over the structural integrity of the bridge.
One of the bridge’s
arches had been blocked by large trees and debris washed downstream, which has caused the river to overflow onto adjoining land and roads.
Council leader Huw David added: “This has been a particularly destructive period of severe weather and it has been distressing to see how it has affected a number of people and homes in the area.
“The council is doing all it can to offer support and limit the impact, and I would like to acknowledge the efforts that our staff and the emergency services are continuing to make to keep people and property as safe as possible.”
Ogmore MP Chris Elmore said: “I spent much of Sunday knocking on doors, speaking to residents, offering my support and seeing the damage in homes. The effect of the flood has devastated so many families and lives.
“If you need assistance or support please give my office a call on 01656 860 034 or email chris.elmore. mp@parliament.uk.”