Storm Barra hits the county borough

For the second time in less than a fortnight, crews from Bridgend County Borough Council have worked around the clock during heavy rain and gale-force winds to keep roads open and homes, people and property safe.

Thankfully, following the extensive damage caused by Storm Arwen, Storm Barra has had a significantly smaller impact upon Bridgend County Borough.

While workers spent the night responding to calls of fallen tree limbs blocking roads such as the Aberkenfig bypass and toppled garden fences in areas like North Cornelly, the biggest impact of the storm was felt along the coastline where strong winds and high tides caused a range of problems.

Council crews worked throughout the night and on into the day to remove rocks and other debris which was thrown over the sea wall and onto the highway at Beach Road and West Road, and also ensured that drains were cleared to prevent flooding.

At the Porthcawl Breakwater, strong waves and gale-force winds caused scaffolding which had been erected as part of the ongoing refurbishment works to collapse. While the breakwater itself was undamaged and no one was injured, the collapsed scaffolding must remain in place until weather and tidal conditions improve.

Council officers are currently at the scene working closely alongside contractors Knights Brown and the RNLI to assess the damage, and to make sure the collapsed scaffolding poles do not create any blockages or obstacles.

As soon as it is safe to do so, the scaffolding will be re-erected to enable work on the breakwater to continue.

While the rest of us are asleep in bed, council workers are out in the worst of the storm making sure that people are safe, roads are clear and damage is kept to a minimum.

I would like to thank them all for their efforts, and to also thank Knights Brown and the RNLI for their swift and strong reaction to the scaffolding collapse at Porthcawl.

We will continue to work together to restore things to normal again as quickly as possible.

Councillor Stuart Baldwin, Cabinet Member for Communities