Despite the current good weather, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is already planning for the winter with extra resources being brought in to carry out further maintenance work to gullies and drains across the County Borough, whilst also allowing planned maintenance work to resume.
As a result of the extra resources, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is asking for residents help in identifying blocked drains and gullies that require clearing.
In the aftermath of Storm Dennis and subsequent weather events, the Council’s focus has been on carrying out reactive repairs to damaged infrastructure.
Now, ahead of the winter, the Council has secured 2 extra gulley emptiers for a short-term period to further support the 5 normal gulley emptiers/jetting units that the Council possesses.
The extra units will focus on reactive work (responding to reports of blocked gullies raised by residents), whilst also allowing the Council’s existing units to move back to carrying out planned maintenance works and a schedule of gulley cleaning across the County Borough after carrying out reactive work over the past 18 months.
As we turn our attention to the winter months, the Council is asking residents to “help us to help you” by reporting blocked drains and gullies online, which can be done on the Council’s ‘Report It’ webpages or via a link on regular Council social media posts.
All reports received of blocked drains and gullies will be checked to establish if they are due to have work carried out under planned maintenance and then followed up in the very near future by the relevant team.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of RCT Council, said: “The Council has drafted in additional resources to increase our capacity in carrying out gulley/drainage clearance schemes across Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“The past 18 months have presented enormous challenges – firstly, through the devastating flooding brought by Storm Dennis which caused widespread damage to infrastructure and followed by subsequent weather events; and secondly through the COVID-19 pandemic, which has placed a significant strain on our staffing resources.
“As we begin to reach mid-summer, our attention turns towards the winter months. With so much reactive work being carried out over the last 18 months, it is important that the Council is able to re-start a planned maintenance programme and the extra resources that have been secured will allow for this to resume.
“As part of this, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is asking residents to ‘help us to help you’ by reporting blocked gullies/drains online – this will help us to ensure that our resources are targeted appropriately in addition to the planned cleaning programmes that are underway.”
You can quickly report blocked drains and gullies online here
Alternatively, you can report a blocked drain or gully via the Council’s Customer Contact Centre on 01443 425001 (8.30am – 5pm, Monday – Friday)
Posted on 16/07/2021