The causes of flooding in Abercwmboi, Fernhill and Porth during Storm Dennis two years ago have been revealed. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has released two more section 19 reports into the flooding which devastated communities across RCT back in early 2020.
The latest two reports published on Tuesday, June 28, focus on Abercwmboi and Fernhill in the Cynon Valley and Porth in the Rhondda valley. In Abercwmboi and Fernhill, a total of 68 homes and five non-residential properties flooded and there was extensive flooding to the highway.
The report for these two areas said that flooding here was a result of significant overland run-off from the steep hillsides above, draining to lower ground through a series of ordinary watercourses many of which became “overwhelmed with water and debris” contributing to the surcharging of several culverts and the internal flooding of several properties. After reviewing the condition and hydraulic performance of the six culvert inlets identified as sources of flooding to properties, it was confirmed that culvert inlets linked with the Bronallt Terrace East and Mostyn Street networks “do not provide adequate standards of protection” in free-flowing condition and that this is further reduced when there’s a blockage.
