5. Will the Minister make a statement on the impact of storm Christoph in Mancot, Sandycroft and surrounding communities? OQ56207

Thank you. Unfortunately, homes have been flooded as a result of storm Christoph throughout Flintshire, with early investigations recognising four properties in Sandycroft were affected. Representatives from the local authority, Natural Resources Wales and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water will meet again this week to understand causes and discuss if improvements can be made collaboratively.

Minister, thank you for that answer. Now, I was recently contacted by distraught residents, asking me to come and see the impact of the recent flooding and what that has done to their daily lives in Sandycroft, Mancot and the surrounding areas. Now, I visited in clear and good conscience as their elected representative, and it was clear to me that that was the very least thing I could do. This is the second time flooding has hit the area in the last 18 months. It is clear that significant investment and attention is needed from the Welsh Government, Flintshire County Council, NRW and Welsh Water. Now, will your officials—you've said they're going to meet again, but will your officials assist in putting a meeting together with me and the residents and those stakeholders to find out what flood prevention techniques can be introduced? And finally, Minister, as we I think agree a long-term solution is needed, whilst residents are waiting for that long-term solution, will you be able to fund a pump that would provide short-term peace of mind for the residents as a matter of urgency?

So, you will have heard me say in my earlier answer to Darren Millar that there is funding available. We've put significant funding already—over £350 million—into our flooding schemes over this term of the Government, and there is further funding available. What is important is that you have the right measures in place. So, clearly, whatever comes out of the investigation into why the homes were flooded, and I'm sure your constituents welcomed and appreciated your visit, we can then take forward whether a scheme is required—a different scheme is required.

We've also made funding available for individual homes to have flood resilience measures, so, things like floodgates. Again, the funding has gone from Welsh Government direct to local authorities, because I think that's important, that the right measures are put there. So, if you gave the funding direct to residents, they may buy something that's not actually going to protect their home any further than it is. 

I certainly would be very happy to meet with you. I recently met with colleagues Mick Antoniw and Jane Hutt, who've both, unfortunately, had flooding in their constituencies, and brought all the partners together—not necessarily with the residents, but with the partners, to have those initial discussions. And it might be worth while doing that with me and my officials and the local authority and NRW and Dŵr Cymru to have a look at some initial findings from the investigations and then maybe later on have a further conversation with residents. 

People in Sandycroft, Mancot and Pentre launched a petition after storm Christoph caused serious flooding, ruining their homes for the second time in 18 months, causing heartache and devastation. The petition states that the

'drainage systems & ditches are poorly maintained and not fit for purpose, because of this people are suffering disastrous consequences & flooding in to their homes. Flintshire County Council need to act now' to address this.

I was also contacted after properties in Broughton were badly affected, with people asking whether flooding would have been reduced if the ditch opposite their properties was widened or deepened by the council. Flooding also closed the roads between Ffynnongroyw and Talacre, Ffordd Llanfynydd between Treuddyn and Llanfynydd, and the A541 Wrexham to Mold road at Pontblyddyn. What wider engagement is the Welsh Government therefore having with Flintshire council to agree the avoidable causes of this county-wide flooding and ensure that preventative, and therefore cost-effective, measures are put in place for the future?

I absolutely agree that, if your home is flooded, it is heartbreaking and very, very traumatic, and we want to do all we can to protect as many homes as possible. You will have heard me say in my earlier answer to Jack Sargeant that this Welsh Government has put in over £360 million into our flood management schemes over the term of this Government. So, the money is there, the funding is there; every local authority knows that they can come forward. We actually want a pipeline of flood defence schemes. I don't want the money to sit there and not be spent, so we've encouraged all local authorities to come forward. So, there is wider engagement with every local authority in Wales around that. 

In response to your specific concerns around—. The residents don't need a petition; the funding is there. It's up to the local authority to come forward with what they think is required. My officials are very keen to work with all local authorities and Natural Resources Wales to make sure we have that pipeline of schemes to spend that significant funding on. To date, the engagement we've had with Flintshire County Council is that there are 37 properties that had internal flooding following storm Christoph. So, I do appreciate it wasn't just localised in the Sandycroft area, and, as we get more information coming in from the investigations, it could be that, unfortunately, we would find there has been an increase in the numbers. I do understand that, obviously, Sandycroft and Pentre had a similar event last year and of course that always increases tensions, and I absolutely understand that they are demanding action, and they are right to do that. But I do want to assure Jack Sargeant's constituents that we are here to help, and it is really important that Flintshire council work closely with Welsh Government and other partners to come forward with solutions.