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Work to start on Glenboi surface water pumping station upgrade

Major works to deliver a £1.4m upgrade to the Glenboi pumping station will get underway, following on-site preparations to date. The scheme is using significant Welsh Government funding to reduce flood risk in the community.

The Council has appointed Envolve Infrastructure Ltd to deliver the scheme, and the contractor has set up its site compound and carried out enabling works during January and February. This follows advanced investigatory work on site in the autumn. The main works for the pumping station upgrade will start from today (Thursday, March 16), estimated to last around five months.

The scheme is benefitting from an 85% contribution (more than £1.2m) from Welsh Government’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Capital Programme. The remaining funding is from the Council’s capital programme.

The new pumping station will have a vastly increased capacity, designed to accommodate surface water and overland flows generated in the local area. The investment is intended to provide long-term resilience to the community.

The small local road closure which is currently in place will be continued for the duration of the scheme – at the section of road outside numbers 16-17 Glenboi. Access will continue to be maintained for emergency service vehicles and pedestrians, while access to all local premises will also be maintained. Local residents have received a letter explaining the works and the construction site set up.

Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “Following on from Welsh Government’s recent funding confirmation, I’m very pleased that the main works on the Glenboi pumping station upgrade will shortly get underway. This follows site investigations which took place in the autumn, and the site setup and pre-works by our appointed contractor since the New Year.

“The upgraded pumping station will provide reassurance to the community in relation to a known flood risk at Glenboi, where water enters a low point in the road. The £1.4m scheme will enhance the current system to accommodate flows of water in storm events, and also reduce flows to a downstream culvert.

“The Council is prioritising targeted investment to create resilience to flooding, recognising that periods of heavy rain are increasingly-likely due to the effects of climate change. Our accelerated programme of work includes more than 100 flood alleviation schemes, of which half are complete – with £18m spent on infrastructure upgrades and £25m on storm repairs in recent years.

“We’ve welcomed a significant Welsh Government contribution towards the Glenboi scheme, which is part of its wider funding for flood alleviation in 2022/23. More than £6.4m was secured for Storm Dennis repairs this financial year, plus around £3.9m for flood alleviation across the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management and Small Scale Works Grant programmes. We’ve also received £400,000 to progress 10 further Resilient Roads schemes.

“Preparatory works have been ongoing at Glenboi for some time, however, when the main scheme gets underway residents will not notice a substantial difference in terms of local disruption. The current small local road closure will remain in place, with no further traffic management expected.

“We will work closely with our appointed contractor to make the necessary progress over the weeks ahead, in order to deliver this major £1.4m flood alleviation investment for the community.”

Posted on 16/03/2023