DRENCHED
RESIDENTS ACROSS SOUTH WALES SPEAK OUT OVER FUTURE FLOODING FEARS AFTER THIRD MAJOR STORM IN A MONTH
RAIL passengers in South Wales have been warned the disruption caused by Storm Jorge will continue for much of this week after the wettest February on record came to an end with yet more torrential rain and gale-force winds.
South Wales once again bore the brunt of February’s third major storm, with Jorge following Storms Ciara and Dennis in bringing flooding and landslides to the area.
Work to clear debris from rail lines after the deluge of rain on Friday night and Saturday morning was ongoing over the weekend.
But while the main line between Cardiff and Bridgend has been reopened and the Treherbert line is back up and running, the route between Aberdare and Pontypridd is expected to be closed until at least Wednesday after around 100 tonnes of debris slid on to the line near Mountain Ash on Friday night.
Bethan Jelfs, customer delivery director for Transport for Wales Rail Services, and Chris Pearce, Network Rail’s head of operations for Wales and the Borders, said: “Following flooding at a number of locations across Wales caused by heavy and sustained rain falling on already saturated ground, our frontline teams have been working round the clock to reopen affected lines.”
In Cardiff, there were around 100 cases of localised flooding on Saturday morning, when police declared a “critical incident”.
Ely Bridge was closed as the river reached its highest level since 2012 at 3.70m, prompting monitoring of surrounding homes, and the level crossing in St Fagans was left underwater after the River Ely burst its banks there.
Council leader Huw Thomas said: “Once again, Cardiff was battered overnight and our crews worked tirelessly to do everything they could to prevent the possibility of flooding.
“Where flooding has happened we will do what we can to support affected residents.”
More than 70 residents attended a public meeting in Whitchurch to air their concerns about future flooding.
Cardiff North AM Julie Morgan and MP Anna McMorrin called the meeting to hear the concerns of people whose homes were flooded after the Taff burst its banks following Storm Dennis.
Mrs Morgan said: “There were many people at the meeting who were very afraid and who had been awake all night following the latest scare yesterday.
“They were very upset and worried. There were lots of questions and we will be arranging another meeting with Natural Resources Wales and will be pressing them about what can be done.”
The AM has set up a “flood fund” for donations to help those affected after Storm Dennis, along with Cardiff North Labour Party, which has already raised more than £500.
She added: “I feel desperately sad for residents who live in Forest Farm Road, Erw Bach and Clos Ty Clyd in Whitchurch who have been in touch with my office and Anna’s to try to get help after their homes were flooded.
“Nine properties in Whitchurch were affected after Storm Dennis but, judging by the turnout to the meeting today, obviously many, many more people are concerned about future flooding.
“Some of the properties which were flooded are home to elderly residents who really need help.
“The council has provided skips and some property-owners are already busy clearing out their homes.
“It is very sad for those who have lost treasured possessions and even their pets, as well as equipment essential for businesses,” she added.
More rain fell in South Wales from Friday into Saturday than any other part of the UK, with 27mm of rain in Treherbert and more than 50mm in the space of 24 hours in Cardiff.
In the Vale of Glamorgan, parts of the village of Peterston-super-Ely are underwater again as a result of the swollen River Ely.
The flooding saw The Sportsman’s Rest pub isolated by water, with the landlord and manager stranded upstairs.
Last September the pub was
forced to close after the river burst its banks, and the water started to enter the building yet again on Friday evening.
And in Merthyr, the village of Pontsticill was cut off for the second time in 24 hours due to landslips.
The road into Pontsticill at Pontsarn, near the Aberglais pub, was covered with debris in the early hours of Saturday.