Myfanwy and Mari Davies back Pwll residents fighting for answers on flooding

Following the misery caused by flooding in Llanelli earlier this month, Dr Myfanwy Davies Plaid’s Westminster Candidate for Llanelli and her mother, Hengoed Councillor Cllr. Mari Davies visited residents in the Nurseries and Bassett Terrace in Pwll.

Residents raised concerns about the management of the river Dulais, the bed of which has risen considerably due to a failure to remove silt and stones. Concerns have also been raised about the condition of the mud and sand bank behind the Nurseries which was breached this month leading to severe flooding in the Nurseries. Further concerns raised by residents in Bassett Terrace centre on the diversion of the River Dulais which now flows directly behind their homes.
Trudi Williams who is a spokesperson for the group said:
“When I moved here they said that severe flooding happens once in seventy years but we’ve had floods three times in the last ten years. During all that time, the silt and stones in the river have not been cleared and the only time I have ever seen people from the Environment Agency here is once we have had flooding. They admit responsibility for managing the river, so let’s see some management. We need the river cleared so that there is room for the water to flow because the arches under the bridge are nearly underwater even on a dry day. When there is heavy rain, it has got to the point where it will overflow. I live in dread of stormy weather now because I just don’t know how bad it could get”
Myfanwy Davies said: “It is clear that the Agency needs to remove the silt and stones from the river Dulais. I am appalled that they have allowed the river bed to fill up so dangerously when we know that the area suffers from flooding and I will be demanding swift action to clear the debris before the next heavy rain”.
“It is very disappointing that the Agency is seeking to avoid responsibility for the flood defenses behind the Nurseries. Together with Helen Mary Jones I will be working to establish who owns the bank so that we can ensure that resources are found to build adequate flood defenses”.
“I was shown photos of the River Dulais where it is diverted behind Basset Terrace after heavy rain and it is clear that the 90 degree bend slows the flow of the water and is much more likely to cause flooding. I have been told that representatives of the Environment Agency have agreed to reinforce the wall behind the nurseries but none of the residents know what implications that building work would have further upstream. I have written to Jane Davidson AM, the Minister for the Environment to ask her for an inquiry into the potential risk of flooding where rivers have been diverted by the Environment Agency. Clearly there are implications for other areas where rivers have been diverted. I will ask the Minister to ensure that the Agency performs its basic statutory duty of managing the river behind the Nurseries and I have also asked Helen Mary Jones to call a meeting with Ms Davidson and local residents at the earliest possible date”.
Cllr Mari Davies said: “It is just not acceptable for the Environment Agency to try to avoid its fundamental duty of managing the river north of Pwll Road. If the residents of the Nurseries are responsible for the bank, and that is debatable, why were they never informed of that and advised what to do to protect their homes? We need to know whether a flooding risk assessment was performed before the river Dulais was diverted south of Pwll Road. Myfanwy is quite right to raise those questions with Helen Mary and the Minister.”
Diwedd / Ends
Notes for Editors:
The residents are keen to address 3 issues:
1. To have the river dredged behind the Nurseries
2. To establish who owns that bank, what defense works would be suitable and what resources could be found to help them build them
3. To establish whether the houses in Bassett Terrace and The Nurseries are more likely to be flooded following the diversion of the Dulais and the low walls build around it to prevent flooding.