Floods support requests will be ‘taken seriously’
ANY request from the Welsh Government for additional support to tackle flooding will be taken seriously, MPs have been told.
Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said the UK Government would respect the views of the Welsh Government in making a request for further support.
But Mr Hart said in discussions with the Welsh First Minister, Mark Drakeford, it was not yet possible to precisely measure what such a request might involve.
He said: “This is a Union issue which is why we are working so closely with the Welsh Government just to make sure that we know precisely what it is that they need and when they need it, but not at the same time interfering with the devolution settlement.”
Intervening, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, Liz Saville-Roberts said: “If the Welsh Government were to approach his government for additional support, bearing in mind that the River Severn and Wye have impact on communities in England, if the Welsh Government were to approach his government and ask for additional support specifically to help those flooding, how would he respond to it?”
Mr Hart said: “We’d respond in the way we always do to the Welsh Government requests for assistance in whatever form it might be requested, by taking it extremely seriously and respecting the views that they press.
“But in the two meetings I think I’ve had with the First Minister so far, it’s very clear, and this is no criticism of him, that we’re a long way off being able to measure precisely what that request might consist of.
“When it comes, we will take it seriously.”
In Pontypridd town centre, which was badly hit by the storm, traffic disruption could last for months as it continues to recover from the aftermath of Storm Dennis.
Over the next few months the town will see road diversions implemented and the potential of increased traffic as the White Bridge, also known as Berw Bridge, faces closure for up to 18 months due to the damage caused by the storm.
Traffic diversions could be in place for up to 17 weeks to enable essential drainage work to be completed as part of Pontypridd’s Llys Cadwyn development.
Work will begin on Monday and will require a section of Crossbrook Street to close and vehicles will be directed to Gas Road Car Park through Taff Street.
The first of the three new Llys Cadwyn buildings, one of which will be the new home of Transport for
Wales, will be handed over to Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) council as the development enters its final stages throughout 2020.When asked about the closure of White Bridge, a spokesman for RCT council said: “Residents and road users are reminded that due to the essential closure of Berw Road Bridge (White Bridge) in Pontypridd, local traffic