WALES COUNTS COST AFTER THIRD STORM IN A MONTH BRINGS MORE MAJOR DISRUPTION
WALES is today assessing the impact of weather-related damage as the wettest February on record finished with the nation bearing the brunt of a punishing storm for the third time in the month.
Storm Jorge saw winds of 69mph, and a remarkable 157mm of rain fall on Treherbert, in the space of 48 hours, making it the UK’s wettest place, while across the south of the country, areas already saturated by storms Ciara and Dennis were left fearing the worst as water levels rose again.
Disruption from the latest storm will continue to impact commuters until Wednesday at the earliest, with the rail line between Pontypridd and Aberdare set to remain closed for the first part of the week as work continues to clear a landslide that brought around 100 tonnes of debris on to the track at Mountain Ash on Friday night.
The Conwy Valley line will also remain closed, with a rail replacement bus service operating between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog until further notice.
However, the main line between Cardiff and Bridgend reopened – despite flooding that submerged a level crossing at St Fagans – and the route between Cardiff and Treherbert was also running again after having to close over the weekend.
In a statement, 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.”
While the torrential rain and galeforce winds that caused problems on Saturday had given way yesterday to brighter, calmer conditions, a further weather warning – this time for ice – was in place from midnight until 10am this morning covering an area across northern Wales and extended as far as Scotland.
Police in flood-hit south Wales declared a temporary “critical incident” on Saturday morning as emergency services, councils and other bodies worked to protect property and infrastructure and protect residents.
In Rhondda Cynon Taff, which was badly affected by flooding after Storm Dennis, rivers reached a critical level, but no evacuations had to be carried out.
The council received hundreds of calls and 1,000 sandbags were handed out.
RCT council leader Andrew Morgan said: “I would once again like to praise the efforts and hard work of our council staff and emergency services during Storm Jorge.
“All council resources were deployed across the county in response to significant rainfall experienced, from Friday morning into the early hours of Saturday.
“The council received hundreds of calls overnight, which required assistance and support to deal with the unprecedented levels of rivers and culverts across RCT. The council delivered 1,000 sandbags between Friday and Saturday in response and has provided more than 10,000 during the last two weeks.
“These rivers rose to critical levels in part, but thankfully we did not experience breaches or flooding in the same way which occurred during Storm Dennis.”
In Cardiff, there were around 100 cases of localised flooding on Saturday morning, when police declared a “critical incident”.
Ely Bridge, in the west of the city, was closed as the river reached its highest level since 2012 at 3.70m, prompting monitoring of surrounding homes.
Cardiff ’s 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 the northern suburb of 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.”
She added: “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.”
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.
Claire Lewis, who helped the pub clear up last September, said the landlord and manager were in the pub’s upstairs, which cannot be reached without wading through waist-high water. By lunchtime the water level started to decrease.
Ms Lewis said: “We have got some breakfast to them, by wading through and them lowering a rope and with us tying a carrier bag to it, but it’s another waiting game now for the water to recede.
“Then we’ll be back in to get everything back to normal.”
Gareth Hardman, who was in Peterston-super-Ely on Saturday morning, said: “It’s not a case of getting your wellies on, the water is waist-deep.
“The pub was still open at 7pm last night.
“The fact that it keeps flooding, they must be used to it now. It’s getting more frequent, and the pub gets the direct impact.”
In Anglesey, a family had a miraculous escape after a large tree fell on their car as they travelled on the A545.
The family were driving between Menai Bridge and Beaumaris at the time.
Driver Paul Mee walked away unhurt from the damage to his new car.
He told the BBC: “I was driving as the tree came down. I got a glimpse of the upper branches coming down and my reaction was to slam the brakes.
“Afterwards there was shock and relief that we could get out of the car.”
The road, known as the Garth bends, forms part of the Anglesey half marathon circuit, which had to be re-routed for Sunday’s race.
A spokesman for North Wales Police said the road would remain closed for the rest of the day and that the stretch of road affected is likely to be reopened this afternoon at the earliest.
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.