The businesses fighting to get back on their feet after floods
Three weeks ago, towns across Wales awoke to the worst flooding they’d seen in many years as Storm Dennis left a trail of destruction. One of the hardest hit was Pontypridd. Katie-Ann Gupwell caught up with businesses fighting to re-open
IT STILL doesn’t seem real to think that Pontypridd town centre could look like a river. Just three weeks ago the town suffered some of the worst flooding in its recent history.
Businesses were swamped by up to five feet of water, cars were submerged, and hundreds of houses were ruined by Storm Dennis.
Three weeks on and, while the water has receded, the fightback is still very much a work in progress.
The town centre remains quiet and partly deserted but, slowly, shops are starting to reopen.
Progress is slow and quiet but bit by bit the town is starting to come back from the damage. What it needs now, more than ever, is the support of its people to bring it back to life.
One of the most cherished businesses in the town is the decades-old Valleys cafe that’s been thriving in the town centre for generations.
The Prince’s reopened its doors on February 28, and although business was slow to start off with, it’s beginning to pick up again a week on.
William Gambarini, 39, who runs The Prince’s along with his family, said they were only able to serve a limited menu at the moment.
“We are managing to open. We have to thank the support of the public to get started. We have managed to get up and running in a short space of time. We have had limited electricity,” he said.
When staff entered the building on the day of the floods water had filled the basement, which is where most of the baking gets done.
It took two weeks to get the electrics running again and now staff are working around the clock to get the restaurant serving the full menu as soon as possible.
After weeks of it being locked up and left in the dark it’s wonderful to see freshly-baked breads and glazed pastries back in the window, even though it’ll take a little longer before they’re fully operational.
When asked when the town is likely to see the venue return to its former glory, William said: “Hopefully it’ll be up and running in three to four weeks. The customers have been very supportive. Everyone has come together as a team to get it open.”
At The Prince’s the family have been lucky to be covered by insurance but that’s not been the case for all the independent businesses affected.
The town’s main Post Office, in Mill Street, was badly affected by the floods. Haiba Al Shather, 40, owns the usually-bustling store.
The marks that surround the wall in the shop reveal just how high the water reached when it flooded but Haiba said the team have done a lot to turn things around since then.
“We are hoping to reopen on Monday,” she added. “It’s a busy Post Office. A lot of elderly people come here. We have two Post Offices – this one and the one in Treforest.
“It’s looking much better. It’s cleaner. So many people have helped.”
When we went inside on Thursday it was easy to see the majority of the shop had gone and the focus at the moment is being placed on trying to fix the Post Office section.
Haiba said: “All the shop has gone – it will cost thousands of pounds worth of damage.” When asked just how much damage has been done she added: “We aren’t insured for starters. Our priority is getting the Post Office up and running and then see how the rest of things are.
“If you come on Monday you will see a different environment. Hopefully [flooding] won’t happen again – the government has to do something about it. It was just unbelievable.”
A few doors away from the Post Office you’ll find Ali Kaya, 33, who has managed Cafe Fresco for two years.
The cafe has now reopened after suffering a lot of damage from the floods although, like The Prince’s, it’s now back up and running with a limited menu.
Discussing progress at the cafe, Ali said: “It’s not finished. We are still losing money.
“We’ve already spent £20,000 in the last three weeks and the loss is I would think £50,000 to £60,000 as less people are coming to the town.
“Less people are going to come. The Post Office is closed, the park is closed – where are people going to go?
“I bring business for everyone and everyone brings business for me – that’s how it works.
“They are hoping to open the Post Office on Monday – all the people get their pensions so that will help.”
The lack of shops reopening is having a knock-on effect on places like Cafe Fresco. Even though some are fighting to get back to normal many shop doors are still closed in the town.
Ynysangharad War Memorial Park also remains closed and the Lido could be out of action all year due to the damage Storm Dennis left behind.
As you walk along Taff Street certain sights have become common.
Shops stripped to the bare bones have dark windows and signs in the window that say “closed due to flood damage”.
Builders, electricians and carpenters can be seen through the windows trying to fix things in some while other premises remain completely boarded up.
A similar picture is visible in Mill Street where clothes shops and food outlets remain closed. Outside some businesses sand bags even remain piled up at the doors.
“Boots is still closed,” added Ali. “That affects us.
“Everything will come back to normal – my opinion is it will take three to four months.
“The thing is some of the businesses, they don’t want to open again. It’s disappointing really.
“It’s because some businesses were struggling anyway so some really don’t want to reopen.
“I have to keep going – I have no choice.”