Clean up and garden reinstatement work for those impacted by Skewen floods

THE Coal Authority has issued its latest update for Skewen residents impacted by flooding. It says:

“Good progress is being made with the clean-up on Jubilee Crescent and Dynevor Road and it is expected that all areas will have completed the first phase of clean-up by end of April. This will then be followed up by a secondary clean-up to those areas that need it – do call the residents line if you’d like to book this.

We are also pushing on with drain clearance and expect all drain clearance to be completed by early May. Please speak with our on-site teams or contact the resident’s helpline if you are aware of any drain clearance that still needs to be completed.

If you have not yet had a clean-up of your garden area, are aware of any areas that still require a first phase clean up or want to book drain clearance then please speak to our on-site teams or contact the residents’ helpline.

We cannot undertake clean-up works or drain clearance without your specific permission. If you would like this support and have not already given permission, then please contact our residents’ helpline on 0800 2884268 or email customerservice@coal.gov.uk

Lee Cammack from our operational team has now completed on-site assessments for garden reinstatement for every property that has requested this support. These are now being worked on so that we can get a draft schedule for each property garden assessed back out to the householder for your review and sign-off. We aim to share the schedules during the week beginning 26 April 2021 and will provide more information next week.

Our clean-up and garden reinstatement support policy will remain in place until the end of January 2022 to allow those who will be out of their homes for longer to access it as needed. If you think this may apply to you please let the residents’ helpline know so that we can follow up later and ensure that the support is provided to you. The full details of our updated policy of support can be seen here.

If you would like to take up our offer of support with garden reinstatement, in line with the support policy, then please complete our online form, call our residents’ helpline, or talk to a member of Coal Authority staff on site. We can confirm that the £2000 (excluding VAT) can be used for materials such as garden fencing, grass, gravel etc., towards the replacement of garden furniture or outdoor play equipment or towards a wider repair (such as a driveway).

We are unable to provide reimbursement for garden replacement expenditure without receipts but we can buy replacement items on your behalf if you are unable to make an advanced purchase. For more information please speak with our residents’ helpline.
Further advice and confirmation on what receipts/invoices are needed if our contractors are not purchasing the materials directly can also be provided by our residents’ helpline.​

We had hoped to have the new pedestrian walkway in place from Goshen Park to the Highlands in place by April 12  but this was impacted by contractor delays and we’re very sorry for any further inconvenience that this delay has caused. Yesterday (14 April) our initial temporary access opened which is wide enough for pushchairs and wheelchairs. This will remain in place until an improved path and ramps are installed shortly.

Western Power has been on-site again this week, completing the safe removal of redundant cables which will allow us to extend our excavations at the road junction. Our remediation scheme plans continue to be developed and we will provide more information on public engagement with these next week.”

If you have any queries regarding your electricity supply, please contact Western Power Customer Services directly on 0800 096 3080 or visit their website https://www.westernpower.co.uk/