Crews work throughout the night to fight flooding

Council staff have been working throughout the night to distribute sandbags, clear drains and gulleys and prevent widespread flooding in Bridgend County Borough.

Preparations for the severe weather began days earlier as workers checked and cleaned key culverts to make sure they were clear before the heavy rainfall arrived. 

The sheer amount of water that fell caused a number of problems as rising levels triggered culvert alarms in areas such as Greenacre and Min Y Nant in Pencoed. However, none of the culverts were overwhelmed, and were able to cope with the volume of water.

A number of gulleys became blocked after the rain caused debris to be swept down from fields and neighbouring land, and had to be cleared from roads in Coytrahen, Litchard, Brynmenyn, Aberkenfig and Newton.

Crews also had to attend to blocked gulleys along the A48 at Stormy Down and the A4093 between Blackmill and Glynogwr, while two routes - Marlas Road at Pyle and New Inn Road near the Dipping Bridge in Merthyr Mawr – had to temporarily close due to rising river levels.

Between 7pm and 4am, workers received numerous requests for support and distributed sandbags to properties at Wigan Terrace in Bryncethin, Duffryn Madog in Maesteg, Heol y Cyw, Lewistown, West Drive in Porthcawl, Heol Pantyawel in Blackmill, the Anwen Care Home in Pantyrawel, Fairways in North Cornelly, Craiglas in Llangeinor and Heol y Frenhines in Cefn Glas.

Incidents such as this help illustrate how the council works around-the-clock to keep people safe roads clear.

Our workers were out again in the morning to clear up mess and debris left behind by the heavy rainfall and to re-check the culvert network, and I would like to thank them for their fantastic efforts.

Councillor Stuart Baldwin, Cabinet Member for Communities