Flooding at the Ynys underpass Aberdare is pumping a permanent answer?
It seems that the persistent problem of flooding along footpath 160, which is a Public Right of Way (PROW), remains a troubling thorn in the side of the local community. Despite the repeated highlighting of this issue on social media, the local authority, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, has shown little inclination to address the matter effectively.
The responsibility for maintaining footpath 160 lies squarely with the Rhondda Cynon Taf Council. However, it is a question whether the council is genuinely committed to resolving this problem. A closer look at the situation reveals a pattern of neglect, and the public is left to ponder whether their trust in the Labour-controlled council and the Welsh Government was misplaced.
A striking image shared on Twitter (see above) exemplifies the extent of the issue that the council continues to disregard. Evidently, this council seems to be throwing good money at short-term fixes while the long-term problem remains unaddressed. The disconcerting brown water, synonymous with iron oxide, suggests excessive amounts of rust in the water, a concern that can have detrimental consequences for the longevity of the pumps. Iron particles wear down the pump’s seals, leading to a loss of power and inevitable leakage. Unfortunately, there is no effective means of preventing these particles from entering the pump.
Water pumps removed from the Ynys are full of rust and inoperable due to too much iron oxide in the ground this will be repeated with new pumps.
This troubling scenario becomes even more concerning when we consider that the council has already replaced the water pumps multiple times, as pictured below, in 2021. The installation of these pumps came at a significant cost, amounting to £4060.28 plus VAT, with Samatrix Pumping Solutions being the contractor engaged by RCT Council. The situation continues to escalate as new water pumps are brought in as a short-term solution. One cannot help but wonder about the financial burden this revolving issue places on the taxpayers of Rhondda Cynon Taf.
AberdareOnline reached out to Sustrans Cymru in 2021, seeking their intervention in the council’s neglect of the issue, which effectively blocks cycle route 478 due to flooding. The response from Sustrans Cymru acknowledged the problem but expressed limited capacity for direct action, given that the land in question is owned by the Local Authority. AberdareOnline subsequently submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for a copy of Sustrans Cymru’s “representations to the Authority” over the last five years. Unfortunately, because Sustrans Cymru is not a public body, they are not obligated to respond, leaving the community in a frustrating state of limbo.
This ongoing issue raises questions about the allocation of funds by councils, particularly concerning active travel projects. It underscores the need for local authorities to heed the voices of those who cannot easily access local destinations by walking or cycling due to the persistently flooded route at the Ynys.
While the Labour Party allocates millions for active travel initiatives across Wales, the ongoing flooding issue in Rhondda Cynon Taf remains a poignant example of how much work still needs to be done to address critical infrastructure problems that continue to plague the community.
