Environment Agency Wales has this month revealed the progress being made in Llanelli to help protect the town from future flooding.
At a meeting of the Llanelli Flood Forum last Friday, Environment Agency Wales lead officer Andy Irving confirmed some of the priority activities the organisation had been working on. He said:
“Our river modelling work has provided a better understanding of the risks of flooding from local rivers and surface water. We have also been raising public awareness in Llanelli and helping people in flood risk areas to prepare for flooding.
“At Bynea we are improving a section of tidal defences and at Pwll a major engineering project to build new defences and re-route river flows will begin later this year.
“New flood warning systems have been introduced for properties in Dafen and this will be extended to parts of Felinfoel and the town area over the next few months. Nearly 2,000 at risk properties will benefit from this new service.”
He also reported back to the Forum on behalf of the Llanelli Flood Technical Group, a special partnership task force set up by Carmarthenshire County Council, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water and the Agency to find ways to help reduce the risk of flooding to local communities.
A desktop study by the partners has identified opportunities to reduce the amount of surface water entering the sewerage system. This information will be used by Carmarthenshire County Council, as the planning authority, when assessing future planning developments. Removing surface water will increase the capacity of the system, reduce the frequency of storm overflows and help reduce flood risk in areas prone to flooding.
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has also carried out a major investigation of the sewer system in Llanelli. This has included wide ranging and detailed "on the ground" survey work as well as identifying where the weak points are in the system. This work should also help target investment to provide real on the ground improvements.
Andy Irving continued:
”At Halfway and Trostre, areas that have a history of flooding, we’re investigating the potential for storing flood water from the River Dafen during flood incidents.
“At Bryngwyn Road, Dafen, we’ve been working closely with both our partners to help reduce the risk of flooding. Significant work has been carried out diverting sewers, constructing an earth bund to protect properties as well providing flood gates to some properties.
“We are also meeting with the local community council and residents in Llangennech to explain our plans to help protect properties in this low lying community from future flooding.”
Nia Griffith MP for Llanelli said:
“I very much welcome the work that Environment Agency Wales and Welsh Water are undertaking to tackle the scourge of flooding in people’s homes and I look forward to seeing progress in Pwll, Bynea, Dafen, Halfway and Trostre. I am also glad that the Llanelli Flood Technical Group have identified ways to divert surface water out of the system, but what is important now is that the County’s planning committee really take notice and insist that all potential developers make a significant investment in infrastructure to reduce the load on the sewerage system, as a condition of being allowed to build.“