Council proposes £200,000 set aside for flood protection schemes

MORE funding for flood-hit businesses in Carmarthenshire has been proposed.

The county suffered widespread damage from Storm Callum in 2018 and further instances of flooding since then, notably Storm Christoph in January this year.

The council’s executive board has now approved proposals to buy 16 dehumidifiers, which could be loaned to affected businesses as and when needed, and set aside £200,000 for new flood protection schemes.

It also agreed to keep £96,000 of unspent flood support money from three years ago for future flood events, and confirmed its support of a flood protection project being explored with Natural Resources Wales and Cambrian Pet Foods Ltd in Llangadog.

Full council will have the final say on the proposals.

A report before the executive board said it was prudent to have a mix of “re-active and proactive support”, given the increasing frequency of flooding.

Worst affected areas, it said, included Llangadog, Carmarthen Quay, Abergwili, Pensarn, Pontyates, Kidwelly and Llandovery.

Speaking in February this year, after yet another deluge, council leader Emlyn Dole said businesses and residents “should not have to live like this”.

He said: “It’s plainly evident that storms causing river flooding are becoming more frequent and they are becoming more intense.”

In March, NRW confirmed it would repair joints in the Llangunnor flood defence wall, Carmarthen, which was breached during Storm Callum. The work is due to be finished by late summer.

Speaking at the May 24 executive board meeting, Cllr Linda Evans said “there is nothing worse” than being affected by floodwater.

Referring to the project being discussed for Llangadog, she said: “I really hope that our key stakeholders and partners are willing to put their money where their mouth is.”

It is expected that the council would contribute around £50,000 to the Llangadog initiative, with NRW and Cambrian Pet Foods both committing the same sum.