Flood defences worth £700k to be built in Swansea valley

Work is set to begin on a large drainage project to prevent flooding at properties at Ystalyfera in the Swansea valley.

The £700,000 project aims to prevent flooding at residents’ homes in the Varteg Estate, with work commencing in July 2021.

Alun Llewelyn, Plaid Cymru councillor for Ystalyfera, said “I am glad the work is scheduled for summer so that residents are reassured that the area will be safe before the autumn and winter weather.”

Floods have occurred in The Varteg and Ynysydarren in recent years, most recently on Ynysydarren Rd in October 2019 when heavy rainfall caused flooding in the village.

Funded by the Welsh Government, work will take place on the Glan Yr Afon Culvert in Ystalyfera, near Asda, to prevent surface water gathering in Varteg Road during periods of high rainfall.

Around 140 metres of new pipework will be installed, with work expecting to take 12 weeks.

‘Delighted’

Cllr Llewelyn said: “The Varteg and Ynynysydarren area has been repeatedly flooded for several years and it has been devastating for some of the residents who were affected several times.

“It was heartbreaking to see the damage and loss of personal possessions including family items and photographs which they can’t recover.

“One culvert at Ynysydarren Road was replaced last year and that has already made a great difference. It is essential that the second culvert is replaced as it currently depends on a temporary pump.”

According to Neath Port Talbot Council, the contractors and the local authority “will try to minimise disruption to local residents as much as possible” during construction “but some temporary disruption will unfortunately be inevitable”.

Cllr Mike Harvey, Neath Port Talbot Council’s cabinet member for streetscene and engineering, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce the progress on this important scheme which is being delivered to safeguard local residents and increase the community’s resilience against the risk of flooding.

“The Welsh Government’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management strategy, which the council is helping to deliver locally, provides a longer-term vision of how we can better protect and prepare homes and businesses from flooding and coastal change in the context of a changing climate.”