Anger over level and timing of storm weather warnings

Politicians and residents in south Wales have lashed out at what they say is a lack of preparation and insufficient warning for Storm Bert, which led to devastating floods.

Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) council, said he was "amazed" that only a yellow weather warning was put in place, saying he stands by his comments that the Met Office should have upgraded to amber or red.

Rhondda and Ogmore MP Sir Chris Bryant and Plaid Cymru MS for South Wales Central Heledd Fychan also criticised the timings of warnings.

But First Minister Eluned Morgan warned climate change means protecting some Welsh homes from flooding is not possible.

The Met Office said it would conduct a full assessment but that the storm was "well forecast" in advance with a number of warnings issued.

Ms Morgan said after spending million of pounds on storm defences and culverts since Storm Dennis "there will be lessons we need to learn".

"We've put a huge amount of investment in and it has supported a lot of people, and they have withstood the flooding this time," she said.

"But clearly there will come a point where, with climate change, it will be difficult to protect every home and every business in Wales."

In an interview with Newyddion S4C, Andrew Morgan said RCT council will make £1m to £2m available to people and businesses affected by Storm Bert from emergency funds.

He said all residents and businesses will be offered £1,000 initially with additional funds available for businesses to make longer-terms adaptations, such as raising electricity sockets.

He added that he was “happy” overall with the way the authority responded in light of the information available to them.

In Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, residents said lessons were not learned from Storm Dennis, which left much of the town under water in 2020.

Resident John Pockett said: "The one thing I think is appalling in this is: where was the warning? Nobody had heard anything at all."

On Monday, the clean-up operation continued as 30 schools were closed, most in Caerphilly and Monmouthshire, and flood alerts remained in place.

These included two severe flood warnings, with significant risk to life and disruption to the community, near the River Monnow in Osbaston and Skenfrith in Monmouthshire, but these have since been lifted.

Welsh Water issued a "boil water" notice affecting 12,000 customers in 10 areas where it advised the tap water may be contaminated.

A landslip near Pontypool, Torfaen, led to the closure of the Newport to Shrewsbury train line, Network Rail said.

In former mining community Cwmtillery, Blaenau Gwent, a landslip left buildings deep in sludge and mud as water poured down what appeared to be a street.

Some homes were evacuated as a result, with resident Wayne Green saying he was looked after in a leisure centre until accommodation was found at about 01:30 GMT.

Firefighters had to evacuate a family from their home near Wrexham after a tree crashed through the wall of the house due to floodwater.

Trevor Baters from Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog Community Council said it was "devastating to see".

Morgan said talks were under way for possible emergency funding.

"The severity and frequency of these events is something we all need to be aware of," she said, adding "hundreds of millions of pounds have been put into flood defences in Wales over the past few years".

Bryant said people in his constituency, which includes Pontypridd, were "utterly miserable" and added he did not understand why a more significant alert was not put in place on Saturday evening.

Conservative Shadow Welsh Secretary Mims Davies called for the UK and Welsh Labour governments to speed up help for flood-hit communities.

"It’s now abundantly clear that there was a lack of preparedness," she said.

In the Commons, UK government Environment Secretary Steve Reed said Westminster has "offered additional support to our colleagues in Wales if and when it is required".

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies questioned whether the warning was severe enough when the "forecast was so dire".

He said: "Given that these areas, such as Pontypridd, were so badly impacted in 2020, we have to ask why lessons have not been learnt."

It came after council leader Morgan said he was "surprised" a red warning was not in place for Storm Bert.

"During Storm Dennis we did see an amber warning well in advance, and a red warning issued in the early hours," he said.

Rhondda Cynon Taf council said 200 properties were affected, with more than a month’s worth of rain falling in a very short period.

The biggest cost for the council is likely to be a bridge in Abercynon that was completely washed away.

The bridge, which was under construction, was replaced after being damaged during Storm Dennis.

Sian Williams from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said the government body would "absolutely" look into complaints that warnings came too late.

NRW monitors river levels and Ms Williams said for each river initial flood alerts were issued on Saturday evening.

"We completely understand people's frustration, but we do need to look into why that was and what could have been done differently, and how we can improve on that in the future," she told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

Fychan said the warnings came "far too late" and added there would be lots of questions over why lessons were not learned from 2020.

"It's just by luck that it wasn't worse this time."

Paula Williams, whose house is on Sion Street in Pontypridd next to the River Taff, said she only knew about the flooding on Sunday morning because a neighbour came knocking on her door.

She said NRW did not listen to warnings from residents raised the last time there was flooding.

The flood waters also surged on the side of the Taff, leaving brown water in the pools at the grade II-listed Lido Ponty, in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park.

The railings of the sports courts have been flattened, and the tennis courts are almost swamp-like, covered in thick, dark silt.

The bank of the River Taff in the town’s Ynysangharad Park, where people usually sit and watch the water flow by, is littered with random objects.

You can expect to see a tyre, trees and branches, and a traffic cone sat along a path that’s absolutely saturated with water.

Rhondda Cynon Taf council said the pool would be closed until Tuesday "to assess storm damage and carry out clear-up works".

It shut for a year and needed extensive repairs after Storm Dennis brought a month's worth of rain in 48 hours in February 2020.

"This time, there's only about four inches of water come in but it's in exactly the same place that we told NRW about last time," she said.

"They've tried to convince everybody that the flood defences worked. I have got videos proving the flood defences don't work."

She said it was the community fighting to protect the homes that stopped the flooding being as bad as in 2020.

Elsewhere in Wales, Connor Turner, landlord of the Vine Tree in Crickhowell, Powys, only finished redecorating the pub a few days ago.

The business, on the south bank of the Usk, had undergone a full refurbishment.

On Sunday they had to close the restaurant because of the flooding and cancel all the bookings.

"For some reason it has become a normality. There needs to be a permanent solution," he said.

He added he was not sure who to be angry with.

"People are saying we have just got to be resilient. Surely there is a permanent solution, that is the annoyance here."

Devon Eason, club manager of Blackwood Rugby Club, Caerphilly, said he was "devastated" after the club's building and grounds were damaged by the flood.

He spent thousands refurbishing the facilities just a few months ago, and the club have had to cancel several events while they try and rebuild the facilities.

"We finished the function room about two months ago, with all new carpets, tables, chairs and toilets. So I am absolutely gutted," he said.

Mr Eason said 50 to 60 members of the community showed up bringing water vacuums and sandbags.

Newport High School Old Boys Rugby Club was also hit by flooding.

In a post on X, Sir Keir Starmer thanked the emergency services for protecting communities.

The Welsh government said: "Our thoughts are with those who have suffered flooding to their homes and businesses. The trauma and upset this causes should never be underestimated."

Simon Brown, services director at the Met Office, said: "As always with a named storm, a full assessment of the forecast and warning strategy will take place with our partners. I would expect this to take place over the coming days.

"The warnings covering Wales highlighted the potential for homes and businesses to flood with fast flowing or deep floodwater was possible, causing a danger to life."

Additional reporting by Oscar Edwards, James McCarthy and Charlie Buckland