Council staff working 24 hours a day to help with flooding

DOZENS of Carmarthenshire County Council workers have worked through the night helping out at flooding incidents across the county.

Crews have been on standy 24-hours-a-day and have been deployed at various locations to assist with a number of incidents.

Other staff are now being called in from annual leave to help if and when needed as the bad weather is forecast to continue over the weekend.

They are being thanked for their efforts by Council Leader Cllr Kevin Madge who said: “We really appreciate the work of all these members of staff who have been helping throughout the bad weather over the Christmas and New Year period, across all four corners of Carmarthenshire.

“They have been on call 24 hours a day and worked throughout the night last night as the bad weather hit the county.

“I know they have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their efforts to support individuals and communities who need it.

“They have deployed hundreds of sandbags to those at risk, helped to clear roads and debris, and provided support at a number of incidents.

“It looks as though we have a long weekend ahead of us with similar forecasts and high tides, and I know that our staff will be working through it all, helping where they can.

“I would really like to say a big thank you to all of them, and reassure people that our crews are on hand to help where and when needed.”

Incidents to date include:

• The road between Ferryside and Kidwelly near St Ishmael’s Caravan Park temporarily closed because of sea water flooding.

• MCP coastal damage including cycleway and footbridge damage at Bynea. People advised to stay away from the footpath at this end at tide in times from 7pm-8pm tonight (Friday Jan3) and tomorrow (Sat) 8am-9-30am morning and similarly 8pm-9.30 pm in the night, and Sunday morning and evening between 9-10.30am and pm.

• People advised not to park on elevated car parks at either Burry Port harbour or Llanelli Prom because of detrius and boulders weighing up to a hundredweight being tossed about in waves.

• Acres of dunescape has been sheered off at Cefn Sidan and the level beach has risen by as much as six feet in some areas with massive movements of sand.

• Rangers are recording trees and tonnes of detritus washed upon beaches at Burry Port East and West and all over the Carmarthenshire coast

• Flooding alerts at Llanstephan. St Clears, Pembrey, Towy Valley, Carmarthen Quay, Llangennech, Hendy, and Laugharne.

• River warnings on Loughor, Towy, Gwendraeth Fach and Fawr and Teifi.

• 40/50 caravans flooded at Carmarthen Bay Caravan Park.

• All boats tied down at Burry Port Marina, no damage reported.

• Police called to Burry Port Pier because of people arrive in cars and walking out on pier.

• Roads closed at Laugharne, Blue Street Carmarthen/Coracle Way and at Llangennech station and St Clears

• Transport issues include trains stopping at Llanelli and being bussed west and likewise from Carmarthen.

• Llangennech Station flooded and road closed there.