Flooding Support

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:59 pm on 22 November 2022.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 1:59, 22 November 2022

Thank you. With regard to your question around the assessment that Welsh Government did in relation to the effectiveness of investment in the scheme, funding for a new trash screen was provided to the local authority through our small-scale schemes fund to Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. They provided detailed proposals for a significant redesign of that existing trash screen, and officials were content with the risk management authority's proposed improvement works, and what that did was seek to make the grid more efficient and, therefore, safer to operate. Regrettably, in this instance—and I completely hear what you're saying about your constituents; it's just a dreadful experience to go through, flooding of your home—the culvert was still overwhelmed due to the magnitude of the storm event. Ultimately, flood schemes can only manage risk, and extreme events can still cause flooding. I know the local authority are in the process of preparing an outline business case to address the wider flood risk associated with the Cryddan brook, and the Minister is expecting those proposals to inform the local authority's section 19 report investigations into the event that you've referred to.

In relation to emergency support, where appropriate, local authorities are able to make applications for financial support under our emergency financial assistance scheme. That would assist with the financial burden of providing relief and carrying out immediate work to manage the impact of an emergency situation.

Regarding business flood relief grant payments, Business Wales does provide businesses with a single point of contact, so they could have a look at that to see if there is anything further available.