Gwernifor & Kingcraft Flood Alleviation Scheme

The works are intended to structurally rehabilitate the culverted ordinary watercourse culvert networks via internal relining and patch repair methods. This will the reduce the risk of structural failure to the existing ordinary watercourse culvert networks. These improvement works will reduce the risk of pluvial flooding in an area which is considered at high risk of flooding.

These works will reduce the potential of structural failure within the culvert networks in the short term whilst, improving the hydraulic efficiency of the culvert inlets/channels.

The LLFA is acting in accordance with its Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) high level objective to ‘Reduce the Consequences of Flood Risk.’ The strategy was published in January 2013 in accordance with Clause 10 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. The LFRMS objective aligns with the 5 overreaching national objectives set out within the National Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Wales.

The area in which the works are proposed is Gwernifor & Kingcraft Street, Mountain Ash which is within the Mountain Ash Electoral Ward and is identified as being one of the highest risk ward within RCT's Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP). According to the Welsh Government’s Communities at Risk Register (CaRR), Mountain Ash is ranked 92nd (out of 2207 communities in Wales) for both surface water and main river flood risk in Wales

These works will directly support the alleviation of flooding to approximately 71 properties, comprising of 64 residential properties and 7 businesses.

RCT Council as LLFA gives notice in accordance with Regulation 5 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Land Drainage Improvement Works) Regulations 1999 as follows:

The Council proposes to carry out land drainage improvement works on two unnamed ordinary watercourses that originate west of Gwernifor and Kingcraft streets in Mountain Ash and convey to their outfall within the River Cynon.

Description of Works

The Gwernifor & Kingcraft areas within Mountain Ash has been subject to several flooding events in recent years, the most significant incident occurred in 2020 following Storm Dennis, which resulted in internal flooding to approximately 18 properties: including 14 residential and 4 businesses.

In response to these events, RCT have proposed to carry out land drainage improvement works to improve the structural condition of below ground culvert networks, facilitate improvement to the culvert inlet and associate channels within Mountain Ash, specifically on Gwernifor and Kingcraft Street. This will reduce the potential of structural failure within the culvert networks in the short term whilst, improving the hydraulic efficiency of the culvert inlets/channels. These improvement works will reduce the risk of pluvial flooding in an area which is considered at high risk of flooding.

These works will directly support the alleviation of flooding to approximately 71 properties in total, comrpsiing of 64 residents properties and 7 businesses.

In undertaking these works the scheme will aim to deliver on the following objectives within Council’s LFRMS.

Undertaking these works the scheme aims to deliver multiple benefits as per the ‘Wales Future Generations Act Wales’:

A Healthier Wales – These works will directly support the alleviation of flooding to approximately 64 residential properties which is estimated to benefit 147 residents (Based on average occupancy of 2.3).which in turn will improve the mental well-being and health of the local community.

A Resilient Wales – -These works aim to improve the long term resilience of a culverted ordinary watercourse which facilitates and improves the existing social and economic resilience of the area through the reduction to disruption and residential damages/losses.

A More Equal Wales – This work will be to the benefit of all parts of society, all will be allowed to fulfil their potential by reducing the likelihood of flooding and enabling long-term resilience for the local community.

A Wales of More Cohesive Communities – Connectivity is critical and this work will allow us to maintain community's significantly important routes. As an organisation, the safety of our communities is paramount, and this work will also significantly reduce risk for commuters and local businesses.

A Globally Responsible Wales – The regulation of ordinary watercourses within RCT are intended to facilitate a catchment-based strategy to ensure the ordinary watercourse infrastructure is free flowing and unobstructed and in doing so ensure there is a positive net contribution to the global wellbeing of the community as a whole.

THE RHONDDA CYNON TAF COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL (“The Council”) GIVES NOTICE in accordance with Regulation 5 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Land Drainage Improvement Works) Regulations 1999 as follows:

The Council proposes to carry out land drainage improvement works on two unnamed ordinary watercourse’s that originate west of Gwernifor and Kingcraft streets in Mountain Ash and convey to their outfall within the River Cynon . The works are intended to structurally rehabilitate the culverted ordinary watercourse culvert networks via internal relining and patch repair methods. This will the reduce the risk of structural failure to the existing ordinary watercourse culvert networks. These improvement works will reduce the risk of pluvial flooding in an area which is considered at high risk of flooding.

The Council does not intend to prepare an environmental statement in respect of the proposed improvement works. With reference to Schedule 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Land Drainage Improvement Works) Regulations 1999, the reasons for not intending to prepare an environment statement are that, considering the characteristics of the improvement works, the environmental sensitivity of geographical areas likely to be affected by the improvement works and the type and characteristics of the potential impact on the environment of the improvement works, it is considered that the proposed works will not have a significant effect on the environment.

The following mitigation and preventative measures will be implementedto prevent what might otherwise have been significant effects on the environment:

• Construction management to mitigate the effects from noise, vibration and dust;

• Construction Management to mitigate the time during which works operate within an Ordinary Watercourse

• Construction Management to mitigate the potential of pollution affecting the ordinary watercourse networks.

• Compliance with additional statutory requirements related to Ordinary Watercourse Consents (section 23 of the Land Drainage Act 1991).

A description of the location, nature and size of the improvement works are set out in Part I of the Schedule to this Notice.

Any person who wishes to do so may make representations in writing in relation to the likely environmental effects of the proposed improvement works to the Director of Frontline Services at Sardis House, Sardis Road, Pontypridd, CF37 1DU or via FRM@rctcbc.gov.uk within 30 days of the date of publication of this Notice.

The additional information concerning the improvement works set out in Part II of the Schedule to this Notice can be obtained from the Director of Frontline Services at Sardis House, Sardis Road, Pontypridd, CF37 1DU via the FRM@rctcbc,gov.uk inbox.

SCHEDULE

Part I – details of improvement works

Location of improvement works: Gwernifor Street (OSGR 304661, 198393), Kingcraft Street (OSGR 304603, 198655), Bryn Ifor street (OSGR 304830, 198543) and Bailey street (OSGR 305016, 198628), within Mountain Ash.

Nature and size of improvement works: All temporary and permanent works associated with:

1. Structural Path repairs and grouting works
2. Structural Relining Works
3. Manhole rehabilitation works

Part II – Additional information

The location of the proposed works is shown on Drawing: