Major investment in flood alleviation delivered in Abercwmboi
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has carried out a major flood alleviation scheme to help prevent further flooding incidents as shown above in the photograph taken from RCTC Storm Dennis – Flood Investigation Abercwmboi & Fernhill.
The question is Bronallt Terrace was a know problem for many years well before Storm Dennis and the council had many complaints to do something constructive. Following the publicity sounding Storm Dennis some real money has been put into flood protection, it just a disappointment the council didn’t spend more on flooding issues and less on vanity projects in Pontypridd. There would be many residents paying a lot less for house insurance if the council and Welsh Government had acted years previous to avoid many houses that were needlessly flooded through lack of investment in the right areas
Major investment in flood alleviation delivered in Abercwmboi
A major flood alleviation scheme has now been completed in Abercwmboi with substantial Welsh Government funding. The finished work has reduced the risk of flooding to properties along the main road at Bronallt Terrace.
The Council secured funding last year to deliver the Upper Bronallt Flood Alleviation Scheme in 2022/23. It used Welsh Government funding that was available for schemes to protect local communities from the risk of flooding. The Council and sub-contractor Hammonds Ltd started work last summer.
The scheme took place off the unnamed road (parallel to the B4275) near Pit Cottages. The scheme was constructed at a watercourse which runs through an area of countryside and passes through existing drainage infrastructure.
The investment has constructed a large attenuation pond (pictured) along the existing culvert, significantly increasing the infrastructure’s capacity. The pond will collect water and slowly release it into the drainage system during heavy rainfall – reducing the risk of the watercourse being overwhelmed. This will have a knock-on effect downstream, protecting properties at Bronallt Terrace.
The scheme has also provided a debris control point and improved works access to the watercourse to help with the future maintenance of the site.
Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “I’m pleased that this major flood alleviation scheme in Abercwmboi is now complete, to provide important protection and reassurance during future storm events – for local homes and businesses further downstream at Bronallt Terrace.
“We welcomed substantial funding for the scheme from Welsh Government, and continue to work together to deliver targeted flood alleviation projects in our communities. In 2022/23, we received substantial funding from the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Programme, the Small Scale Works Grant and the Resilient Roads Fund. We’ve also bid for significant funding in 2023/24, to continue our accelerated programme across the County Borough.
“The Upper Bronallt Flood Alleviation Scheme in Abercwmboi has installed an attenuation pond at the existing watercourse, which will collect water when it rains heavily and reduce the volume that the drainage network needs to manage at one time. Another important aspect of the work was to establish a dedicated access so the site can be more easily maintained in the future.
“I’d like to thank residents for their cooperation while the works took place over recent months, as we delivered this vital upgrade for the community.”
