Pontypridd Flood Relief donations given to residents affected

26 local businesses and 39 households will receive £447.93 to help rebuild after the tragic flooding in the constituency of Pontypridd caused by Storm Bert.

The monies raised by local Labour MP Alex Davies-Jones’ GoFundMe and private donations totalled almost £30,000 and has been distributed equally by RCT council based on their records of those affected.

While there were some technical difficulties in transferring the GoFundMe in Alex’s name over to RCT Council to distribute, this was swiftly rectified in partnership with the GoFundMe team and residents will now receive the additional almost £450 support, alongside the previously received £1000 per residential property internally flooded and £1000 per small or medium enterprise internally flooded given by RCT Council.

Across RCT we saw over a month’s worth of rain falling in a very short period due to Storm Bert. The Flood Risk team has inspected areas where flooding occurred to better understand how different flooding incidents have occurred and why.  The Council began taking preparatory steps days ahead of the storm, ensuring all available resources were utilized, in anticipation of Storm Bert becoming a major weather event. This included cleaning and inspecting drains and culverts, ensuring all our monitoring equipment was working and responding to reports from residents. Crews also worked throughout to support residents, with many working double shifts or cancelling leave to help support.

Since Storm Dennis, a huge amount of work has been undertaken by the Council to improve culverts and drainage systems, and although some of these were overwhelmed, where significant investment has been made we have seen many properties protected or the impact lessened.

Much more needs to be done to ensure resilience from future flooding and this work is already underway. Pontypridd is a significant benefactor of the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Programme for 2024 -2025. The Welsh Government has pledged to make £75m available to Risk Management Authorities, maintaining record levels of investment as we continue to deliver against our Programme for Government commitment to reduce flood risk to over 45,000 properties. This will take time, but it is a priority for Labour in Wales who will also invest £34m capital funding in new schemes throughout Wales, including in Pontypridd.

Alex is also working with the ABI to ensure residents and businesses can obtain affordable and robust insurance on their properties.

 

Alex Davies-Jones, Labour MP for Pontypridd said:

‘In times of hardship, like the devastation we experienced of the recent flooding, there is nothing stronger than the power of community.

‘I am so grateful for the generosity shown as we all pulled together to support each other, and want to thank every single person who donated. Our local fundraiser raised around £14,000 and is by no means the only support available. In combination with kind private donations, the total of just under £30,000 has now been distributed to local people and independent businesses affected.

‘I hope this will go some way to helping them rebuild. I am working closely alongside RCT Council, Welsh Water, NRW and Welsh and UK Labour Governments towards a future where damage like this is never repeated.’