£1m project improving flood defences for 100 homes

Powys County Council has used the money from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund to buy two large pumps for use in Bridge Street and New Road, in Crickhowell, to help protect 18 homes from flooding caused by high water levels in the River Usk.

It has also been used to build a bund and make drainage modifications, in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, alongside the A470 in Llandinam, to help protect eight homes from flooding caused by the River Severn bursting its banks.

It is also paying for individual prevention measures to be installed at around 80 Powys homes that are at a high risk of flooding, including in Knighton, Llandrinio, Four Crosses, Welshpool, Caersws, Ystradgynlais and Hay-on-Wye.

Work has been completed at around half of these properties, with the rest due to be finished by the end of 2024.

The measures being installed for the council, by contractor Lakeside Flood Solutions, include barriers to protect doorways, which can be dismantled when not needed, automatic airbrick covers, non-return valves for drains, sinks and showers and puddle pumps.

One of the homes that has benefited is owned by Tony Thorn at Caersws. It is close to the Rivers Severn, Trannon and Carno, and flooded around two-and-a-half years ago causing extensive damage.

Tony said: “We are really satisfied with the work and hope the system will work well.

“It seems to be very robust and fit for purpose, which is good, and we now have flood defences on all the doors around the house, and where we’ve got a conservatory at the back, they’ve put a massive flood defence system right across. Providing we get enough notice; we will be able to put all the defences up and be secure.”

The scheme has been managed by Powys County Council’s Highways Service and targeted properties that had been identified as being at risk by its Emergency Planning Team.

“Following storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge in February 2020, parts of Powys received record rainfall, and many homes were flooded,” said Councillor Richard Church, Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys. “Other storms such as Babet in 2023 have also caused extensive flooding in the county. 

“We recognised the enormous impact that flooding has on people’s lives so, put in this bid for UK Government funding, for work which we hope will lessen the severity of any future damage.”

Councillor Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys added: “With increasing concern about the effects of climate change and the possibility of more frequent flooding, this project will bring peace of mind to many in Powys whose homes have flooded before.”

The funding was awarded to the Highways Service by the Powys Shared Prosperity Fund Local Partnership Board, which is supported by the council’s Economy and Climate Service.

JBA Consulting was hired to carry out assessments and surveys of the homes in Powys identified as being at most risk of flooding.

Advice on dealing with floods: https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/7982/Dealing-with-emergencies---Floods