‘No lessons have been learned’: as floods recede, anger rises in south Wales valleys

Storyville Books on Mill Street, Pontypridd. Its co-owner Jenna Cowley said locals did not get a flood warning. Photograph: Jeff Baxter

After the anguish, came the anger. As flood waters subsided across the south Wales valleys and devastated residents and business owners surveyed the damage done by Storm Bert, questions were being asked about whether warnings were adequate.

Many of the overwhelmed towns and villages experienced similar devastation in 2020 when Storm Dennis swept through – yet those interviewed by the Guardian said little, if anything, had been done to future-proof against floods and storms in the intervening years.