Gwyn rides to his wife Rita’s rescue in flood
AN 85-YEAR-OLD man has to give his wife a lift on his electric wheelchair to get through a permanent patch of flooding in the lane near their home.
Gwyn and wife Rita Richards, 83, have been living at their home in Bridgend for 51 years, with Gwyn having built the house himself.
The smallholding is just off Heronstone Lane, which has been in an almost permanent state of flooding for the last several years.
Their son Jeff Richards said it is a struggle for the couple to get to town – as Gwyn no longer drives due to his disability – without having to wade through the water.
“While he really doesn’t mind, my father has to give my mother a lift on his powered wheelchair to get through the water, otherwise she has to wear wellies every time they venture out.
“In heavy rain it is impassable in anything other than a large SUV or van.
“When that happens, they are routinely marooned at home.
“The road has been lowered due to a railway route and the surrounding land, which was previously farmed, has now got new housing developments built on it.
“When it rains heavy small cars have got stuck in the water.”
Jeff said the lane floods on routes either side of their home, and hopes the council can fix the issue so Rita doesn’t have to rely on her husband for a lift on his scooter or need to wear wellies for every outing.
A spokesperson for Bridgend council said: “In common with many rural lanes of this nature, Heronston Lane is surrounded by privately owned land and relies on drainage ditches adjacent to the highway to remove any water which cascades down.
“We have been working closely with the resident and local elected member over this issue, and previously advised them that a drainage survey and associated works would be completed during 2020-21.
“While the coronavirus pandemic has impacted upon that schedule, the survey has been completed, and the improvement works are currently being scheduled to take place.”