Welsh Government criticised over failure to help flood-hit Powys town
The Welsh Government has been criticised for failing to protect Llanwrtyd Wells residents from flooding following a public meeting over the weekend.
On Saturday Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds hosted a meeting with locals at the Neuadd Arms Hotel in the town where recent damage caused by flooding was discussed.
Residents have faced years of collapsing and blocked drains but at the start of the month, properties in the town were flooded and sink holes opened up.
At the meeting, several residents expressed concern over the poor response from public bodies such as Natural Resources Wales to the flooding in the town.
The Welsh Government was also criticised for failing to complete flood defence work before the flooding took place, which may have prevented several properties from being damaged.
After the meeting, Jane Dodds MS vowed to hold the Welsh Government to account for their failings.
Commenting on the need for improvements to the town’s flood defences, Jane Dodds said that it was “important that we ensure that this failure does not happen again.”
“As the climate crisis worsens and we begin to see extreme weather cases like this more often, it has become increasingly more important to ensure that public bodies responsible for protecting our communities are doing their jobs properly.
“Unfortunately in Llanwrtyd Wells, we saw the opposite of this.
“Residents were let down by the inaction of the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales, this cannot be allowed to happen again.
“I know that the recent flooding has badly affected many people in and around Llanwrtyd Wells, which is why residents need full support in helping them to recover.
“I will continue to lobby the Welsh Government to ensure that both residents of this town, and across Mid Wales, are not ignored when it comes to protecting them from flooding and other cases of extreme weather.”
Llanwrtyd Wells town councillo Martin Pigott said; “The people of Llanwrtyd Wells have endured anxiety about flooding issues for years, and now it's happened.
“One week ago flood water washed through people's gardens, homes and businesses.
“We need urgent action from the Welsh Government and Powys County Council working together to clear up the damage to people's properties and offer a long-term solution.”
