Is the old story coming back?

OVER the past week we have seen the huge devastation that has been caused by the recent storm, not only in Carmarthen but over a wide area. Also the tragic events which led to a young man from Newcastle Emlyn to lose his life and I’m sure everyone extends their deepest sympathy to the family.

Possibly the dry summer has saved Pensarn from the drastic flooding which happened 31 years ago, almost to the day. How?

When the storm hit us this time the level of the water at Llyn Brianne Dam, Rhandirmwyn, was quite low, resulting in very little extra water going down the Towy Valley, unlike back in 1987 when apparently the water gates/valves were opened resulting in thousands of gallons of water cascading down the valley.

When fire breaks out, it can be controlled and stopped, but the power of water will devastate everything in its path and nothing will stop it.

Some have said ‘build the walls higher’, but water will find its way around it and the higher the wall, the less stable it gets.

Do you remember as children when you were building sandcastles on the beach and when the tide was coming in, you built a wall of sand around the castle and it wasn’t long before the wall was breached and when you filled that gap in another appeared and so on until the wall totally collapsed.

You Welsh readers will remember the story of “Cantre’r Gwaelod” when the watchman left the flood gate open and the whole village disappeared under the waves.

The county planners need to look very carefully at all applications where there are dwellings or industrial buildings to ensure that their contribution to flooding, not just to the property, but to the surrounding area is kept to a minimum.

We have had instances in our area where houses have been built, and the effect of surface water has been seen quite a distance away from that area.

After the floods of 1987 and now 2018, I wonder if the story of the Old Carmarthen Oak is coming back to the minds of a lot of people. “When the Carmarthen Oak falls, Carmarthen will drown.” Just google “The old Carmarthen Oak” and listen to the story by Frank Hennessy.

It has happened twice and it’s going to happen again – but when?

I think departments need to get together soon and see what can be done to overcome this problem and there is no doubt that if nothing is done it is going to happen again and next time it could be worse and lives could be lost.

“God grant me the severity to accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

John Crossley

Former county councillor for Llangeler