**Bridgend Flat Owners Face Further Heartbreak as Second Flood in Months Leaves Residents Homeless**
An elderly woman was rescued by emergency services and ten ground-floor households have been left homeless yet again, after flash flooding struck the Ty Caer Castell flats in Bridgend for the second time in less than a year. Residents, already battered by a previous flood in September 2024, described the latest event as “devastating,” with ongoing uncertainty leaving many at their wits’ end.
The most recent deluge took place during the early hours of Saturday 14 June, when torrential rainfall caused water levels to rise alarmingly fast. According to eyewitness accounts, floodwaters reached waist height within the communal ground-floor corridor and living spaces, prompting emergency evacuations. A visibly shaken elderly resident had to be guided to safety by fire crews as neighbours watched in dismay.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time disaster has struck the Ty Caer Castell community. Landlord Leyton Stevens, who has owned a flat in the complex since 2007, reported that this marked the third occasion his property had been left uninhabitable by flooding. The 2012 and September 2024 incidents both resulted in substantial losses, but the latest disaster has intensified feelings of despair and frustration.
Residents only recently begun returning to their homes after last year’s extensive repairs. “Everywhere you look, you’ll see devastation,” said Mr Stevens, recounting the repairs that required the removal of walls, electrics, kitchens, and furnishings. Many had only just finished rebuilding or were preparing to move back in, only to have those hopes dashed by yet another catastrophic flood.
For those directly affected, the psychological and financial toll continues to mount. “You know it may happen again every time it rains,” Stevens said, referencing the deep anxiety that now pervades daily life. He highlighted the bleak outlook facing property owners, with flats now potentially “uninsurable” and values plummeting as the risk of future flooding appears unresolved.
The challenge is compounded by what residents describe as a lack of concrete support from local authorities and agencies. Significant frustration has been expressed regarding the response to previous floods, with residents writing to multiple organisations without gaining satisfactory answers or lasting solutions. Many believe their warnings and requests are dismissed or overlooked, exacerbating a sense of abandonment among those most vulnerable.
The impact is particularly acute for older residents or those with fewer resources, some of whom had only just reoccupied their renovated homes. In one distressing incident, a woman who had funded her own repairs was rescued by firefighters in the early hours, having only just returned.
Meteorological factors played a key role in this recent flooding. On the evening the flats were inundated, the Met Office had issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms, as heavy rain battered Wales and sent river levels rising. By Saturday morning, six flood alerts had been raised by Natural Resources Wales, indicating the scale of the challenge, although these were later removed as conditions eased.
Despite the widespread damage, questions remain over what long-term measures, if any, will be brought in to prevent further catastrophes. The plight of the Ty Caer Castell residents starkly illustrates ongoing concerns about flood defences and infrastructure resilience, particularly as more areas in Wales experience increasingly volatile weather patterns.
As the affected homeowners begin the clean-up for a second time in less than a year, their future remains uncertain. Many are calling for urgent action and greater accountability to help protect vulnerable communities from the recurrent aftermath of extreme weather.
Residents and those impacted are invited to share their experiences with local authorities to advocate for more comprehensive flood protection and community support moving forward.