Council crews battle through storm conditions

COUNCIL highway and hydrology crews responded to well over 100 calls during last night’s storm.

Torrential rain and gale force winds battered the county shortly after 4pm, felling trees, causing flooding, and blocking roadways.

Street Scene crews – who are on stand-by 24-hours, 365 days of the year – battled through the conditions to make priority routes safe during the worst of the weather.

Later in the evening, and again this morning, they’ve cleared debris, assessed damage, and prepared for the next heavy rainfall, expected tomorrow (Friday).

Hydrology teams helped pump water away from the worst affected areas.

In Carmarthen and west there were 30 separate flooding incidents, as well as seven calls to fallen trees. Crews also assisted police on two separate road closures and diversions, and had one call to help with a dangerous structure.

This morning they are assessing over 50 highway defect notifications.

In the Ammanford area, crews attended flooding incidents at Rhosaman and Drefach, and unblocked ditches along the Brynamman to Black Mountain route.

In the north of the county, Llansawel was hit by flooding, as was the Derwydd to Ffairfach route.

And in Llanelli, crews helped police to close and divert traffic due to a damaged roof on Glanmor Road, and a fallen Christmas tree at the Trostre Retail Park.

Flooding was also reported between Pembrey and Pinged.

Cllr Colin Evans, Executive Board Member for Technical Services, said: “I want to thank all crews and officers who responded to a high volume of calls in what were pretty awful conditions.

“Our main priority now is to assess damage, clear debris and prepare for the next heavy rainfall.”