County faces worst floods for a decade (From Western Telegraph)

County faces worst floods for a decade

TORRENTIAL RAIN last week caused some of the worst flooding in Pembrokeshire during the past decade.

Roads were closed as rivers and streams burst their banks, water poured off fields, and drains were unable to cope. Some properties were flooded. Retained firemen and council workmen worked hard to tackle the worst areas.

The village of Cilgerran was badly hit with a blocked culvert causing the river to overflow into Church Street. At one stage the council tried to get a diver down to clear the culvert, but it proved too dangerous.

Alwyn and Brenda James, of Y Felin, and their neighbours had an anxious week. On Wednesday, with water rising rapidly, they managed to roll up their carpets and get their furniture upstairs.

"This is an old mill and we had problems before so we anticipated this. We kept on mopping up the ground floor, but if we get another big deluge it is quite worrying," said Mr James.

Local county councillor John Davies said: "The situation has been nothing less than devastating in Cilgerran. It was very concerning for two houses in particular. Another half-a-dozen were also affected and about 150 metres of county highway were washed away. Council workers, officers and engineers tried to relieve the matter. I have nothing but praise for them. They did a tremendous job, but they failed because of the high river water."

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesman said: "The mouth of the culvert on the Afon Plysgog became blocked with debris, resulting in the stream overflowing onto the roadway.

"Council workmen using a JCB were unable to clear the blockage due to the flow of water. A retained firefighting crew also attended. Although sandbags were used to divert the flow of water away from property, limited flooding occurred in two dwellings."

Severe flooding at the Spittal tunnel led to three ponies being trapped by the high water in a field. The tunnel is a notorious flood blackspot, where water has been known to rise in a very short time. Police on the scene quickly deduced that the only way to reach the stranded animals was via the railway line and down a steep embankment, as the gate to the field was submerged under three feet of water.

A police officer, the owner of the ponies and Treffgarne residents offering assistance, discussed plans to gain access to the ponies. The owner finally decided to leave the ponies where they were, and wait for the flooding to drop further before attempting to rescue them.

Children on a Narberth estate had to paddle through several inches of water to get to school after a path became flooded.

Wayne Bradfield of Garfield Gardens, Coxhill, Narberth, said: "People living at Hill Park, Coxhill and Garfield Gardens, have to cross the moor to get the children to school. There is a path across the car park and it is up to five inches in water.

"Children and their parents going to school and other residents, including senior citizens, are forced to walk through it. We have been in touch with the council and they did some work, but all it has done is move the puddle further long."

Many areas suffered localised flooding and teams of council teams cleared blocked drains, pipes, gullies, grids and culverts. But roads were closed near Lydstep, Loveston and Gumfreston, while properties were flooded at Lawrenny, Pembroke Dock and Pembroke.

CAPTION

Flooded: The road through Spittal tunnel. PICTURE: Western Telegraph.