Tide of destruction
Flooding wrecks historic castle as a month’s rain falls in 24 hours
AN historic castle has been flooded for the third time in seven months after being ‘abandoned’ by the authorities, its devastated owners claimed yesterday.
Gardens surrounding Gwydir Castle in North Wales – visited in July by Prince Charles – were submerged after parts of the country saw a month’s worth of rain fall in just 24 hours.
Despite efforts by volunteers to build a wall of sandbags, the Tudor property was left with 7ft of water in its cellars as the nearby River Conwy reached record levels.
Judy Corbett, who has lived at the Grade I-listed fortified manor house with her husband Peter Welford for 25 years, is convinced that a £7million project to protect nearby villages from flooding has increased the risk to the property.
They believe the work made the river flow more quickly. However, the Welsh authorities deny this and say funding for flood protection work is prioritised based on how many lives are at risk.
‘ We’re completely devastated,’ Miss Corbett said. ‘We’ve been warning this
‘It’s absolutely heartbreaking’
would measures keep weren’t happening put in if flood place protection and we’ve again been proved right.’
She added that repeated flooding had left the castle with damp and rot.
‘We ought to be opening to visitors for the season on April 1, but that’s obviously not going to happen now,’ she added. ‘It’s absolutely heartbreaking. If nothing is done to protect us, the fabric of this historic building will suffer permanent damage.’
Supporters of Gwydir Castle last night backed the call for action. Actor John Challis – best known as Boycie from Only Fools and Horses – said on Twitter the authorities’ response was ‘disgraceful and elitist’.
Conservative Welsh Assembly member Janet Finch-Saunders pledged to challenge the refusal of funding, posting: ‘Why are our private listed buildings and our historical Welsh heritage placed at risk in this way?’
But Sian Williams, of Natural Resources Wales, which is responsible for flood protection measures, said: ‘ We have a duty to use the public money to reduce the risk of flooding for as many homes and business as we can. This is why it is difficult to prioritise this property above other communities.’
She insisted that the Conwy valley flood scheme reduced the risk for the castle. Despite the measures, about 40 homes flooded in Llanrwst. There was also flooding in towns and cities elsewhere, including York and Rochdale. Four people had to be rescued from two cars stuck at Bangor-on-Dee, near Wrexham, yesterday. The Environment Agency has warned that water flowing from sodden hills and fields means flooding will continue to be a risk ‘over the next few days’. Last night, there were 27 flood warnings across England, largely in the West Midlands and in the North, along with five in Wales.