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Drainage issues causing ‘River Ganges’ in village

04 Aug 2024 7 minute read
Water flowing down into John Davies’ driveway in Capel Llanilltern after a period of heavy rainfall. Pic: John Davies

Ted Peskett Local Democracy Reporter

A resident living in a rural area outside of Cardiff has likened regular flooding on a lane affected by drainage issues for years to the River Ganges.

Star Lane is a single track road in Capel Llanilltern, which lies roughly between Pentyrch and and Creigiau.

The issues there, which are caused by blocked culverts and a lack of drains according to residents, have gotten worse over the years and also ruined one couple’s driveway.

“Plagued”

Cardiff Council ward member for Pentyrch and St Fagans, Cllr Rhys Livesy, said the entire ward is plagued by persistent flooding issues and that he often finds himself “scrambling from one urgent flooding case to another”.

The council said work has started on plans to remediate Star Lane, but continued waiting over the years has left some residents feeling like they are forgotten in the local authority area.

The flooding from drainage issues plaguing Capel Llanilltern wrecked John Davies’ driveway. Pic: John Davies

“It has ripped my driveway to shreds,” said John Davies, whose property is across the road from Star Lane.

“This has gone on for many years and quite a few times I have filled the potholes that have come about because of the rain.

“I am retired now and to be quite honest with you, I am fed up of doing it and I can’t really afford to keep carrying out these repairs.”

Pictures showing the extent of flooding on Ty Nant Road after heavy rainfall. Pic: Rhys Livesy

When it rains, the water that collects on and flows down the road crosses Llantrisant Road and down into John and his wife’s driveway – one he has already spent nearly £1,000 trying to fix because of the damage caused to it over the years.

John, who is also a Pentyrch Community Councillor, said he has been contacting Cardiff Council about the issue for at least 10 years in attempts to get it sorted.

He added: “At its worst, coming down on our driveway I wouldn’t be exaggerating when I say we get four inches of water coming down there.

“And then I have got the cost after of cleaning all the debris. No one else does it other than me… as you get older it is not easy.

“I never liked doing it anyway because as far as I was concerned, it was Cardiff City Council’s problem.

“We seem to have been ignored and forgotten.”

Cllr Rhys Livesy said at a full council meeting on Thursday, July 18, that he was pleased to have news from the council that funding was found for surface water issues on Star Lane, but added that residents were becoming nervous again that work could be delayed.

He mentioned that the issues can cause 20ft high splashes from cars and leave small rivers running through gardens after it’s rained.

Examples of flooding in the centre of Pentyrch. Pic: Rhys Livesy

Cardiff Council’s cabinet member for waste, street scene and environmental services, Cllr Norma Mackie reassured him that quotes have been obtained from local contractors to install new gullies and carry out further clearance and remedial work to the culvert.

She added: “Discussions are currently ongoing with the council’s network management team.

“Works are proposed to begin during the school summer holidays.”

One resident who lives on Star Lane, Pattie Norling, said: “I will believe it when I see it.”

Pattie said she has known about problems on Star Lane for 20 years. She has been contacting the council about it since 2015.

“I always liken it to the River Ganges,” said Pattie, 71.

“It also deposits all of the silt and the rubbish which then allows that [build-up] to happen which is the curtilage of our property.

“We have to go and dig that out by hand. We do that about three times a year.”

Pattie said she remembered when taxi driver, who was bringing someone in the area home, wouldn’t go past her house because of the flooding.

She said: “I would not feel happy walking across to my neighbours. Our elderly neighbours… opposite.

“They often ask us to go and do things for [them] and when it is raining that heavily, I would rather get the car out and drive there would you believe?

“We have promise after promise, meeting after meeting. Every date comes and goes and nothing happens.”

She also said that on a particularly wet day it has been known for her kitchen window, which is just under 5m away from the road, to be splashed by water coming from passing vehicles.

Pattie added: “And for this we pay three and a half grand a year in council tax. We are the forgotten area.”

About a six minute drive away is Ty Nant Road outside of Creigiau which suffers similar problems.

Residents there say there is a lack of drainage which often makes the road impassable after periods of heavy rainfall.

Cllr Livesy said missing drains on Crofft y Genau Road, St Fagans, means water regularly collects there and that drainage issues which are yet to be sorted in the centre of Pentyrch means it also suffers from flooding.

He said: “In these drier months, it’s unsettling to discuss the persistent flooding issues plaguing the Pentyrch & St Fagans ward.

“The problem spans the entire ward, affecting areas from Gwaelod y Garth to St Fagans, and many places in between, including Capel Llanilltern, Creigiau, and Pentyrch.

“As councillor, I often find myself scrambling from one urgent flooding case to another. Last winter, flood-related inquiries poured in relentlessly.

“Our short, intense showers can trigger severe problems within minutes, compounded by ongoing maintenance issues.

“There’s a glaring lack of a regular maintenance schedule for crucial drains and gullies.

“Most issues are only addressed when they escalate, sometimes taking months or even years, as seen with Star Lane, to secure funding.

“I hope these delays aren’t because fewer people are affected in our rural areas, compared to inner-city.

“The Highways team is doing its best, and the progress on Star Lane is promising. But with autumn and winter fast approaching, many problem sites remain neglected.

“The Head of Highways is tackling a list of flood-affected roads and blocked gullies I’ve provided, but we’re still awaiting solutions and site visits for some areas.

“Following a positive response from the new Cabinet Member for Waste, Street Scene & Environmental Services at our last full-council meeting, regarding Star Lane, I will continue to push for urgent action throughout the ward.”

A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “The city has experienced exceptionally high levels of rainfall this year.

“This level of rainfall will always have an impact on surface water gathering and how long it will take to drain away naturally. With lanes, if the land on either side of the road is saturated, the water has nowhere to go, so ponding will take place.

“Remedial work is taking place at the locations that have been referenced, but to put in additional drainage, you must create capacity.

“It isn’t as easy as just putting in an additional drain. This is exceptionally expensive, but the council does use the available resources to improve the drainage system.

“The council has a committed team of staff that work across the city to clear 80,000 gullies especially in areas that are prone to flooding.”


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