Cabinet receives update on work to prevent flooding

The Cabinet of Bridgend County Borough Council has approved the Annual Flood Investigation Report 2019-20.

Outlining what flooding incidents have taken place in the county borough, the report looks at the causes and considers what work has taken place to mitigate the chance of future flooding.

It confirms that the majority of incidents were caused by the sheer volume of rain which fell during severe weather, overwhelming the drainage system and local watercourses at several key points throughout the county borough including private networks and watercourses as well as assets owned by the council and partner organisations.

Work to manage flood risk throughout the affected areas includes additional drainage at Talbot Street, a major cleansing of the culvert network within Yr Ysfa and Commercial Street at Ogmore Vale, an overview report to identify possible upstream interventions within Heol Faen, and a localised review of existing drainage networks within Llangeinor.

Using a mix of visual inspections and CCTV surveys to determine the condition of drains and culverts, the council has undertaken or arranged for work to prevent root damage or the build-up of silt as well as the use of specialist equipment to clear blockages.

We had a number of severe storms during this period which had a major impact on homes across Wales.

While the sheer amount of heavy rainfall managed to overload some drainage systems, the council and its partners were able to keep the impact to an absolute minimum by carrying out mitigating work in advance and also working around the clock to keep drains and culverts clear.

I know that further work is being carried out, and I’d like to thank our council workers for their sterling efforts during these circumstances, and to acknowledge their professionalism and diligence.

Councillor Richard Young, Cabinet Member for Communities