Westminster offers help to Wales as Storm Bert clean-up continues
Hundreds of homes have been impacted by flooding caused by Storm Bert.
Last updated 26th Nov 2024
Westminster has offered Cardiff Bay additional support to deal with the aftermath of Storm Bert, the Environment Secretary has said.
In a House of Commons statement about severe weather, particularly rain and flooding, Steve Reed told MPs: "Flooding in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is dealt with by the devolved authorities.
"The Prime Minister (Sir Keir Starmer) spoke to the First Minister of Wales (Eluned Morgan) on Sunday and the Welsh Government has activated its crisis management arrangements in support of the local response. We have offered additional support to our colleagues in Wales if and when that is required.
"I would like to put on record my thanks to the emergency responders, local authorities and the Environment Agency (in England) for their immense efforts to help communities across the country."
200-300 homes in Pontypridd have been affected by flooding following the torrential rain brought by Storm Bert with Newport also affected.
Residents in Cwmtillery were also evacuated after the heavy rain led to a landslip from a former coal tip.
As the mud poured off the hillside overnight, residents in the area were asked to leave their homes for an emergency centre.
Rob Scholes, 75, also a Woodland Terrace resident said: "We got moved out last night, the mud came up - it's already gone down a lot.
"My neighbour phoned and said 'don't open your front door', so I didn't and we just watched it come up.
"I've just come back this morning to see the damage.
"To be honest, I really don't think we're gonna get this cleared up by Christmas."
The Welsh Government has now said that Blaenau Gwent Borough Council confirmed the landslip was a "singular wash-out of a former coal tip in the area".
The coal tip in the area was category D, which have the "potential to impact public safety" and need to be inspected at least twice a year.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "We are fully committed to ensuring our coal tip communities are safe, both now and in the future.
"We are working closely with Blaenau Gwent council and the Coal Authority to provide support to the residents and to ensure that the area is safe.
"The highest risk coal tips (category C and D) are regularly inspected by the Coal Authority and we will continue to work with our statutory partners throughout Wales to inspect and evaluate the highest rates tips in Wales."
Environment secretary Steve Reed said the Government "stand ready" to offer further support to communities in Wales that are among the worst hit by floods.
Asked what extra help those in the worst-affected areas in Wales will receive, he said: "The Government has set up a Floods Resilience Taskforce and that is to make sure that the agencies on the ground in areas that are affected by flooding, as we've seen this weekend, are able to offer whatever support they can to those people. It's important that that is done.
"The Prime Minister has spoken to the First Minister of Wales and has offered additional support if they need it in Wales.
"So far, they haven't said that they need that.
"But we stand ready to offer whatever further support we can to those parts of Wales that have been the very hardest hit by the floods."