Almost 300 residential properties in the Rhydyfelin area have benefited from a project to help protect them from flooding.
Over £3m has been spent in the area that has provided improved flood protection to around 280 residential properties, Heol y Celyn Primary School as well as local roads and the Taff Trail cycle route
Thanks to support from the Welsh Government’s Flood Risk Management Grant, European Regional Development Fund and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council capital funds the scheme has been completed addressing a long standing surface water flooding problem in the Glyntaf Farm Estate and Sycamore Street area of Rhydyfelin. Since 1993 around 100 homes have been flooded on several occasions with many more properties experiencing severe disruption.
The project has used sustainable drainage techniques including the use of surface ponds, modifying and replacing culverts, overflow systems, flood water routing and storm water storage tanks/pipes. In addition to the physical work, a campaign for flooding awareness and community liaison within the flood risk area has been introduced and will continue after the project.
A unique opportunity arose whereby the local football club changing rooms were used as the site offices and were re-furbished at no additional cost to the project thus increasing the community benefit of the project.
Risk of localised flooding continues to be an issue after the project and RCTCBC Flood Risk Management team continues to work with our partners in the community, Newydd Housing, RCT homes and the Waste Management and Streetcare divisions of the Council to minimise that risk.
However, the risk of flooding significantly increases where there is illegal tipping of rubbish in and around the streams and culverts. We therefore request that the general public only uses official and legal means for disposal of their rubbish.