Community councillors in Croesyceiliog and Llanyrafon say that flood defences in the area need to be checked and any repairs carried out.

At this week’s council meeting, they were given an update on Torfaen Council’s Local Flood Risk Management
Strategy (LFRMS) by Carys Williams, the council’s flood risk officer.

She said the strategy was adopted by the cabinet’s February meeting. In Croesyceiliog and Llanyrafon there are:

  • 1,976 homes with a one in 1,000 years risk of flood
  • 582 homes with a one in 100 years risk of flood
  • 335 homes with a one in 30 years risk of a flood.

The strategy covers the council’s actions for the next six years and will now go to the Welsh Government to be approved.

At the cabinet meeting, Cllr Mandy Owen, executive member for environment, said: “It must be noted that the action plan contained within the LFRMS does rely on Welsh Government funding. It has been guaranteed for the past five years but there is no guarantee that it will guaranteed for the lifetime of the strategy.”

Cllr Stewart Matthews, Croesyceiliog North Ward, said that there were several football fields along the edges of the Afon Lwyd throughout the wards.  He said that along these fields and by the “back of houses” there were “bunds”, built of grassed areas to act as a flood defence.

Cllr Matthews added that over the years “they’ve actually flattened” and “Torfaen [Council] should be looking to build these areas back up. These bunds are now about that height [he held his hands to show about two foot].”

Cllr Sean O’Dobhain, Croesyceiliog North Ward, said that a gap had appeared in a bund in Croesyceiliog where people drove to “park on the grass. They need to be looked at. There are flood defences in place and I think they need looking at in terms of repairs and review. They’re probably in disrepair. It would be worthwhile to have an engineer to have a look at this.”

Cllr Veronica Crick, Croesyceiliog South Ward, asked if the strategy would include planting trees as this was “so important for the infrastructure” to combat flooding.

Councillor David Williams, Llanyrafon West, said that Llanyrafon Football Club “did do repairs to the bunds about three years. But needs to be checked for the integrity. I know the football club are keen to plant more. trees.”