Bridgend is taking on Mother Nature! 🌧️ After a spirited council meeting, local leaders are stepping up their game to tackle the challenges of flooding and extreme weather events. Councillor Tim Thomas is leading the charge, emphasising the need for proactive, strategic planning backed by solid resources.
Recent floods in areas like St Brides Minor, Bryncethin, and Aberkenfig have pushed the council to prioritise preventative maintenance and repairs on drains and culverts. There’s talk of stronger leadership and collaboration with organisations such as Natural Resources Wales. Plus, there’s a call to rethink how sandbags and flood kits are deployed, alongside harnessing technology for smarter flood prevention.
Councillor Amanda Williams is pushing for a rock-solid support system, especially for the borough’s most vulnerable residents during storms. Meanwhile, Steven Easterbrook highlights the repeated flooding issues in areas like Greenfields Avenue, prompting discussions on setting aside reserves and acquiring better equipment.
Council Leader John Spanswick backs these proactive steps, agreeing that the time to adapt is now. However, not everyone thought the meeting was necessary, with Reform Councillor Owain Clatworthy suggesting the focus should have been elsewhere. Yet, Mayor Huw David reaffirmed the importance, noting that residents care deeply about the council’s actions on flooding.
Councillor Paul Davies laid out the plan to tackle these challenges head-on—26,000 gulleys and more frequent cleaning are just the start. Disappointed that key partners like Welsh Water and Natural Resources Wales missed the meeting, there’s hope to reconvene in December to ensure everyone’s on board.
Bridgend’s ready to weather the storm—are you? đź’Ş Let us know your thoughts in the comments! đź’¬ #Bridgend #FloodPrevention #CommunityAction