Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:53 pm on 16 September 2020.
Can I say, Minister, firstly, that I welcome that answer? I know how seriously you've taken the issue of flooding when it occurred in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Taff-Ely. I'm very grateful for the swift response that we've had and the collaboration between Rhondda Cynon Taf council and Welsh Government. Of course, at the moment, we are awaiting a series of very important inquiry reports. I think there are eight for Taff-Ely alone that are awaited to deal with various issues arising from flooding. Now, as you know—and I know you fully understand this—of course, as winter approaches, there are very real concerns for those people who were flooded or live in flood risk areas that the same might happen again, having got their houses in order, to be potentially flooded again if we face more serious storms. One of the key areas that has emerged in the various meetings that myself and my colleague Alex Davies-Jones have had with local residents has been the issue of protection specifically for houses. Now, you mentioned the area of flood gates, but there are the issues of vent protections and so on. I'd be grateful, perhaps, if you could just clarify that if there are applications made either by Rhondda Cynon Taf council or by individuals, et cetera, for such flood resilient measures, they will be received and supported by Welsh Government if it can be shown that they would alleviate the flood risk. Because clearly it can't be right that there could be any house that might benefit from such flood resilience measures that can't afford to do them. If we can't stop climate change and the flooding risk, surely we need to do everything we can to ensure we support those communities where they have experienced the consequences of flooding.