Recent Flooding Across Wales Sparks Renewed Demand for Better Flood Defences

The recent flooding in mid and south west Wales, which was escalated to a ‘major incident’ requiring fire services to rescue people from homes and vehicles, and a ‘threat to life’ has drawn responses from Greenpeace UK who are calling for better protection against an increased risk in flooding.

Emily Black, Greenpeace UK spokesperson, from Haverfordwest, said: “People in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire deserve better protections from these horrendous floods, and the UK government should make fossil fuel giants pay their fair share of the bill, because they’re the ones fuelling the climate crisis making flooding worse and more frequent.

“Polluter taxes on fossil fuel companies could help pay for flood defences, adaptations and recovery for people in Wales and elsewhere – it’s a popular idea among voters and already backed by politicians such as Caerfyrddin MP Ann Davies, Ceredigion Preseli MP Ben Lake and Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi. Worsening floods are not a natural disaster, they’re a symptom of the climate crisis, so it’s only right to make the polluters responsible – not Welsh flood victims – pay.”

In Cynwyl Elfed, a small village in rural Carmarthenshire, multiple homes were impacted by the flooding. As rainfall increased, both the Afon Duad and Nant Gochen that meet in the village burst their banks, rushing into the homes that reside lower down in the village. Two homes were wrecked and two businesses sustained costly damage, namely the Blue Bell Inn and the Elfed Woollen Mill which reported losses to stock as well as damage to furniture and machinery.

Many argue that if Cynwyl Elfed and villages like it had better drainage and if the river was better maintained with a buildup of flood defences in key areas along the river, much of the damage could have been avoided. Many feel forgotten about in these small communities where they are often left to fend for themselves. Whilst the community spirit is widely commended and acts of kindness are nothing short of truly valuable, the questions are being asked as to why areas that are at risk of flooding are not being given the necessary upgrades to meet future risks.