A consultation has started on the proposed introduction of Land Drainage Byelaws within Rhondda Cynon Taf Council – and interested members of the public are urged to have their say before the deadline in early January 2023.
Under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, Local Authorities in Wales were given additional powers and responsibilities for managing flooding from local sources, such as surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses.
As a result, from April 2012 the responsibility for issuing ordinary watercourse consent under the Land Drainage Act 1991 passed from Natural Resources Wales to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority.
However, practitioners have noted that these powers are limited, and some activities that do not currently require consent could potentially increase flood risk, particularly in built-up areas. Welsh Government has therefore approved updated Land Drainage Byelaws to help Local Authorities in Wales better manage their flood risk management functions through improved regulation.
Adopting a standard set of Land Drainage Byelaws will enable consistency across Wales, and the Council’s proposal is to adopt them – following their approval by Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs. Some Byelaws included in the standard set will not apply to the Rhondda Cynon Taf area – for instance, those relating to tidal defences.
The consultation will run for six weeks in total – starting from Monday, November 21, 2022, and ending on Monday, January 2, 2023.
The consultation will present the Byelaws, and offer the opportunity for the public, risk partners and members of staff to have their say on how the Council manages the risk of ordinary watercourse flooding. Take part in the process on the Council’s website, here.
Posted on 21/11/2022