Monday, 30 October, 2000, 17:05 GMT



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Monday, 30 October, 2000, 17:05 GMT

Storms wreak chaos around Wales

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Roads became rivers as the flood water rose

Homes and business have been flooded out, roads and train services closed and public services disrupted by storms across Wales.

Winds of up to 100 miles per hour have left behind a trail of communications chaos for travellers and have cut off power to some homes.

People needed to be evacuated from their homes in several places across Wales as the flood waters reached dangerous levels.

Emergency services in south Wales took more than 500 calls from members of the public from midnight. Monday, 6 November, 2000, 13:52 GMT

Monday 6 November 2000

Flooding causes havoc in north

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Thousands of sandbags were laid over the weekend

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|Last week's rain swelled rivers |

Flooding has caused devastation across north Wales for the second time in a week.

Ruthin is cut off with several feet of water in the town centre, as is the centre of Mold.

Hundreds of homes are without power and some pensioners had to be rescued by lifeboat crews.

The floods also brought chaos to the roads.

The A525 between Denbigh and Ruthin is unpassable.

The emergency services and local authorities have said the situation is worse than it was at its peak a week ago.

At least two inches of rain has fallen - and the downpour is continuing.

Thursday, 30 November, 2000, 07:16 GMT

Flood victims seek urgent action

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Around 200 people attended an initial meeting

Flood victims in a north Wales town are meeting to discuss moves to seek support for urgent action to solve the problems being experienced.

Victims of the recent floods in Denbighshire have formed an action group to press the council into action.

More than 200 people held an initial meeting at Ruthin town hall organised by the Environment Agency.

Mwrog Street in Ruthin was badly affected in the floods, with some properties left under several feet of water.

Many local residents are angry at what they see as the council's generally negative response to the crisis, which left some properties flooded twice in two weeks.

Worst of the floods

Residents are calling for the culvert under the badly-hit Mwrog Street to be replaced, as well as mitigation measures on the River Clwyd.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said it wanted to work with Denbighshire council and the National Assembly to find solutions - and the meeting was important to allow flood victims to express their feelings

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|Ruthin was hit by severe flooding |

The town of Ruthin suffered some of the worst of the floods which hit Britain nearly a month ago.

Some areas of the town were severely flooded twice in a fortnight.

Denbighshire Council has put the overall bill for the flooding at around £5m.

Saturday, 20 October, 2001, 16:24 GMT 17:24 UK

Floods return days after clear-up

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Flooding returns to Ruthin.

Heavy rain has brought renewed flooding to a north Wales town just days after repairs had finished at some properties damaged by last year's flood water.

Residents and businesses in the Borthyn area of Ruthin are once again counting the cost after the rain on Friday night resulted in water gushing out of a culvert and running into Mwrog Street and Denbigh Road.

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|Home and cars in Ruthin's 2000 |

|floods |

Rhyl was the wettest place in the UK overnight receiving 30mm of rain in just over three hours but it is the people of Ruthin who are demanding answers about their prospects for the winter.

Denbighshire County Council has been accused of doing very little over the past year to ensure the town is better protected.

Last month Environment Agency Wales warned that up to 120,000 homes in the country could be at risk of floods if there is a repeat of last year's heavy rain.

A mopping up operation is underway once again in Ruthin's Mwrog Street after six inches of flood water rushed into a chip shop and hairdressers which only reopened last week after last year's flood.

Mud

The Park Place Hotel also bore the brunt of the flood water - inches of mud can be seen outside and inside the pub.

About 20 homes and half a dozen businesses were affected and local people say the recent work on the culvert which runs under the street is too little, too late.

They also say they had no warning of Friday night's flood.

Eifion Hughes, vice-chairman of a local flood action committee, said: "People are just so frustrated that it has happened again.

"People are so angry. They just cannot believe that it has happened again."

Pump water

He added: "This is the third flood now and people are absolutely devastated. Some of them have only moved back in two or three weeks ago after the last flood."

But Councillor Elwyn Edwards, the leader of the council, said the local authority had been working hard to try and sort the culvert out once and for all.

He said a £1.5m proposal to divert the stream water away from Mwrog Street would be ready to go to consultation at the beginning of November with the project expected to be finished by next summer.

He added that in the meantime the council hoped to get the welsh Assembly's support for a short-term scheme for this winter in which pumps would be used to pump water from the culvert.

Monday, 22 October, 2001, 12:58 GMT 13:58 UK

Criticism over flood damage

Council officials in north Wales are continuing to clear up after heavy rain brought flooding, amid criticism some of the damage could have been prevented.

The operation in Ruthin began after downpours at the weekend, just days after the completion of repairs to homes damaged in last autumn's flooding.

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|Home and cars in Ruthin's 2000 |

|floods |

Plans for a £1.5m flood defence scheme to prevent further flooding hitting Mwrog Street and the Borthyn area this winter are not due to be finished until next summer.

Denbighshire County Council has been accused by businesses in the town of not acting quickly enough in the past 12 months to avoid repeated flooding.

Eifion Hughes, vice-chairman of a local flood action committee, said: "This is the third flood that has taken place in 12 months. People are just so frustrated that it has happened again.

"People are so angry."

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|This is a difficult technical |

|situation and the flood action |

|group have to recognise this |

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|Coun Elwyn Edwards, leader |

|Denbighshire County Council |

But council leader Elwyn Edwards said the council had been working hard to try and sort the culvert out once and for all.

The proposed defences focus on diverting the stream water away from Mwrog Street.

The scheme is due to go to consultation at the beginning of November before work begins.

Coun Edwards said the authority hoped to get the Welsh Assembly's support for a short- term scheme for this winter, using pumps to take away excess water from the culvert at Mwrog Street.

Last month, Environment Agency Wales warned that up to 120,000 homes in the country could be at risk of floods if there is a repeat of last year's heavy rain.

At the weekend in Ruthin, the Park Place Hotel bore the brunt of the flood water - inches of mud can be seen outside and inside the pub.

About 20 homes and half a dozen businesses were affected and local people say the recent work on the culvert which runs under the street is too little, too late.

'People are frustrated'

They also say they had no warning of Friday night's flood.

Rhyl was the wettest place in the UK on Friday, receiving 30mm of rain in just over three hours but it is the people of Ruthin who are demanding answers about their prospects for the winter.

Elsewhere in Wales, flooding was reported at Tintern, near Chepstow and a flood warnings were in force for the River Vyrnwy from Llasantffraid to Shrawardine, as well as the Severn from Caerhowel to Trewern and the Afon Clwyd at Ruthin.

Flood watches were also in force for north east Powys area and the Vale of Clwyd.

Wednesday, 7 November, 2001, 08:53 GMT

Ruthin flood defence plan unveiled

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Flooding returns to Ruthin

People whose homes have been flooded repeatedly despite plans for £1.5m flood defence scheme in their north Wales town are being invited to view an exhibition outlining how the project will work.

Denbighshire County Council is holding the two-day exhibition in Ruthin to assauge the anger of town people who say more should have been done to prevent flood damage to their property.

Last month the town was flooded for the third time

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|Home and cars in Ruthin's 2000 |

|floods |

in a year after heavy rain deluged the Mwrog Street culvert causing damage in the Borthyn area.

Businesses accused Denbighshire County Council of not doing enough to prevent the flooding.

The local authority has responded with exhibition, on 7-8 November, which shows the two alternative routes for the proposed long-term flood prevention scheme which is due for completition next summer.

The proposed defences focus on diverting the stream water away from Mwrog Street.

Council officers and technical consultants for the local authority will be at the hall on Denbigh Road from 0930GMT to 1830GMT on both days.

The aim is to give local people an opportunity to see the plans and speak to the officers and consultants involved so that they give their own opinion on how to end the town's repeat flooding problem.

Divert stream

Residents will be invited to fill in a questionnaire on their preferred route.

Councillor David Morris, Cabinet member with lead responsibility for environment, said: "Denbighshire is seeking views about the proposals to alleviate flooding in the western side of Ruthin.

"Flooding occurs as a result of surcharging of the watercourse which flows through Llanfwrog and enters the River Clwyd via the Mwrog Street culvert.

"Consultants acting for the county council have determined that to alleviate the flooding caused by this watercourse it will be necessary to completely divert the stream from its current route in Mwrog Street.

Flood risk

"Two alternative routes have been identified and the county council wishes to have the views of the public.

"These will be taken into account along with technical, financial and environmental factors, when the final route is chosen."

People who are not able to attend the exhibition this week will have an opportunity to see it at Ruthin library where it will be for a week from Monday 12 November.

In September, Environment Agency Wales warned that up to 120,000 homes in the country could be at risk of floods if there is a repeat of last year's heavy rain.

Thursday, 17 January, 2002, 10:19 GMT

Flood relief plans for town

Around 200 homes were flooded in Ruthin

Plans to protect a north east Wales town from costly flooding problems have been passed by Denbighshire County Councillors.

Officers approved the preferred option - expected to cost around £900,000 - which will see water diverted to the north of the town and into the River Clwyd.

Over 90% of local people backed the scheme however some voiced safety concerns over the plans.

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|Ruthin was badly effected by the |

|floods |

Bryn Davies, development manager for Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd said the scheme was broadly welcomed.

But at Llys Famau, the plans show an open stream with no fencing, he said.

"If children went to play there, their parents couldn't see them so we would like a fence."

An alternative plan would have diverted the culvert beneath Mwrog Street - but the majority of local people questioned opposed it.

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|If you look on Mwrog Street where|

|I live, it still looks like |

|Beirut |

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|June Jones, from Ruthin |

The local authority outlined the flood prevention scheme after criticism from local businesses, who had accused them of not doing enough to prevent the flooding.

Specialist consultants were drafted in to work with the Welsh Assembly and the Environment Agency to determine a flood alleviation scheme for the town.

Councillor David Morris, cabinet member with responsibility for environment, said: "Consultants acting for the county council have determined that to alleviate the flooding, it will be necessary to completely divert the stream from its current route in Mwrog Street."

Heavy rain

Residents repeated their concerns to the local authority last year after the town was flooded for the third time in 12 months.

Heavy rain deluged the Mwrog Street culvert and caused damage in the Borthyn area.

June Jones has lived in Ruthin for 13 years and has been flooded four times, in 2001 she was left homeless for 5 months.

Mrs Jones - who backs the plans - said the floods caused more than £18,000 worth of damage to her home, she has backed the council's scheme to divert stream water away from her home.

Viable option

She said the town still has not recovered: "If you look on Mwrog Street where I live, it still looks like Beirut - people are not happy to take their sandbags away."

Consultants agreed that diverting the stream to the north of the town is the most viable option as it will take the stream away from the centre of Ruthin whilst reducing the flows in the River Clwyd.

However, it could result in the loss of farming land and increase the risk of flooding to agricultural areas.

Work is now expected to begin in the summer of 2002.

Thursday, 6 June, 2002, 16:01 GMT 17:01 UK

Flood relief plans on target

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Homes in Ruthin have suffered repeated flooding

A scheme to protect north Wales residents who have been flooded out of their homes on numerous occasions is on target to start this summer.

The project - costing nearly £900,000 - aims to divert water away from houses in Ruthin which were last flooded in October.

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|A second round of negotiations |

|with landowners is now necessary |

|to finalise details and secure |

|formal agreement to access and |

|acquire land for the scheme |

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|Denbighshire County Council |

|Spokesman |

Council bosses in Denbighshire plan to re-direct a brook which runs under Mwrog Street along farmland to Denbigh Road to join the River Clwyd away from the town.

More than 90% of local people backed the initiative during the initial consultation process.

A council spokesman said: "A second round of negotiations with landowners is now necessary to finalise details and secure formal agreement to access and acquire land for the scheme.

"Subject to the successful completion of this process it remains our intention to commence scheme construction in late summer."

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|Ruthin was badly effected by the |

|floods |

The local authority initiated the prevention project following criticism from business owners, who accused them of not doing enough to prevent the flooding.

Specialist consultants were drafted in to work with the Welsh Assembly and the Environment Agency to determine a flood alleviation scheme for the town.

Residents repeated their concerns last year after the town was flooded for the third time in 12 months.

Agricultural damage

Heavy rain deluged the Mwrog Street culvert and caused damage in the Borthyn area.

Consultants agreed diverting the stream to the north of the town was the most viable option as it would take the stream away from the centre of Ruthin while reducing the flow in the River Clwyd.

However, it could result in the loss of farming land and increase the risk of flooding to agricultural areas.

In the meantime, a raised roundabout has been erected in Mwrog Street as a temporary measure.

If flood water does come gushing into the street it will be diverted into a local park and river.

Wednesday, 4 September, 2002

Flood relief plan gets go-ahead

A scheme to protect residents in Ruthin who have been flooded out of their homes on numerous occasions has been approved.

The project, which will cost just under £1m, was agreed during a meeting of Denbighshire councillors on Wednesday.

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|I couldn't see that they would |

|turn it down, the only problem is|

|it'll take five months to |

|complete |

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|June Jones, Mwrog Street resident|

The problem will be tackled by diverting water away from houses in Ruthin which were last flooded in October 2001.

Severe flooding has severely affected residential and commercial properties around the Mwrog Street and Borthyn areas of the town.

June Jones, who has lived in Mwrog Street for 14 years, and has been flooded out of her home four times welcomed the council's decision.

"It'll mean that we haven't got to jump out of bed all winter wondering if we've been flooded.

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|The town was badly effected by the |

|floods |

"I couldn't see that they would turn it down, the only problem is it'll take five months to complete."

Since 1998 there have been a number of separate flooding incidents resulting from problems with a culvert which runs from Mwrog Street to the River Clwyd.

Under the new project a brook which runs under the street and along farmland to Denbigh Road will be re-directed to join the River Clwyd.

The water will then be carried away from the town.

Improve protection

The local authority initiated the prevention project after business owners accused them of not tackling the problem.

The Welsh Assembly and the Environment Agency were drafted in last year to determine a flood alleviation scheme for the town.

Councillors carried out a consultation last year over the plans and more than 90% of the public were in favour of the initiative.

Eryl Williams, leader of the local authority, said the project will help Ruthin households.

"A lot of work has already been carried out to reduce the risks of further problems with flooding in the area.

"This scheme will dramatically improve protection for residential and business properties and we will be pushing ahead with these plans as soon as possible."

Monday, 21 October, 2002, 11:23 GMT 12:23 UK

Fears rise over flood action 'delay'

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Ruthin town centre has been badly flooded in the past

A north Wales politician has warned of "an explosion of anger" in a Denbighshire town prone to flooding.

Ruthin residents had been promised a £1m defence scheme to prevent further damage to their homes after the area flooded four times in four years.

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|The money for this project is |

|sitting in the assembly's bank |

|account awaiting the signatures |

|on the legal documentation |

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|Clwyd West AM, Alun Pugh |

However, fears have been raised the project could be delayed and Clwyd West AM Alun Pugh said people are becoming annoyed.

The local authority needs to put up part of the drainage system on local landowners property but talks have apparently taken longer than anticipated.

Mr Pugh said negotiations have not yet reached a point where a construction contract can be put to tender.

"The money for this project is sitting in the assembly's bank account awaiting the signatures on the legal documentation," he said.

Residents worried

"The project is desperately needed to remove the very real fear of flooding from the town.

"I have met constituents who are sick with worry that their homes will be hit again this winter. "If work doesn't start before Christmas there will be an explosion of anger in the town."

In the past severe flooding has affected residential and commercial properties around the Mwrog Street and Borthyn areas of the town.

Fears of another deluge have heightened following torrential rain throughout north Wales over the weekend.

BBC Wales' weatherman Derek Brockway said there is worse to come.

"There will be more rain this week, although it will be warmer.

"The weather has turned much more unsettled now," he said.

On Monday, a spokesman for Denbighshire council said they had not received any calls from people concerned about the possibility of flooding.

He also confirmed that the authority would continue with the flood defence scheme.

"Denbighshire County Council is committed to starting the work on the flood alleviation scheme at the earliest opportunity and is currently finalising some issues before the scheme can move forward," he said.

Favourable response

The problem will be tackled by diverting water away from houses in Ruthin which were last flooded in October 2001.

Since 1998 there have been a number of separate flooding incidents resulting from problems with a culvert which runs from Mwrog Street to the River Clwyd.

Under the new project a brook which runs under the street and along farmland to Denbigh Road will be re-directed to join the River Clwyd.

The water will then be carried away from the town.

Councillors carried out a consultation last year over the plans and more than 90% of the public were in favour of the initiative.

Friday, 24 January, 2003, 06:35 GMT

New defences for flood-hit town

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Ruthin town centre has been badly flooded in the past

Long-awaited flood alleviation work in a north Wales town is due to move a step closer.

Denbighshire Council is expected to announce on Friday it has appointed a contractor to carry out the work in Ruthin and that it has set a date to start.

The £1m defence scheme has hit delays, angering local residents and politicians.

Work was held up after a dispute with landowners.

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|The culvert is prone to flooding |

Ruthin residents had been promised defences to prevent further damage to their homes after the area flooded four times in four years.

But the Environment Agency has said that many residents living in the worst-hit area of the town have not signed up to a 24-hour flood warning telephone messaging service.

The Agency has said it is surprised that just 165 properties out of 400 in the worst-hit part of town have signed up for the scheme.

It is appealing for the remaining residents to register for the scheme.

Speaking about the delays, before Christmas, Clwyd West AM Alun Pugh said: "The project is desperately needed to remove the very real fear of flooding from the town."

Severe flooding

In the past severe flooding has affected residential and commercial properties around the Mwrog Street and Borthyn areas of the town.

Since 1998, there have been a number of separate flooding incidents resulting from problems with a culvert, which runs from Mwrog Street to the River Clwyd.

Under the new project a brook which runs under the street and along farmland to Denbigh Road will be re-directed to join the River Clwyd.

The water will then be carried away from the town.

Councillors carried out a consultation last year over the plans and more than 90% of the public were in favour of the initiative.

Saturday, 18 October, 2003

Town protected against floods

A flood defence scheme which has cost twice as much as planned comes into operation on Saturday.

Ruthin in Denbighshire, north Wales, was one of the worst-affected towns in Wales during the disastrous autumn floods of 2000.

But the area's local authority is now confident it can prevent such devastating problems happening again - thanks to almost £3m-worth of flood prevention work.

Among the most severely-hit parts were Mwrog Street and the Borthyn area of the town.

Since 1998, there have several incidents of flooding resulting from problems with a culvert, which runs from Mwrog Street to the River Clwyd.

Residents had to be evacuated three years ago when a culvert beneath the ground was unable to cope with continuous flood water.

Denbighshire County Council has since developed a scheme to divert excess water from the River Clwyd away from the town centre.

A brook which runs under the street and along farmland to Denbigh Road will be re-directed to join the River Clwyd.

Contractual problems with the owners of the farmland which will now carry diverted river water have meant the cost of the scheme has doubled this year from £1.6m to just under £3m.

The council pressed ahead with the work, having made a pledge to people living in the town. Many families had seen their homes flooded four times in four years

The authority is confident future floods can be averted but many locals will only be convinced once the new system has been tested by the weather.

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North Wales has been flooded numerous times Floods have taken property and treasured possessions

Dec 12 2003

Flooding relief at last for residents

CHRISTMAS will be all the sweeter this year after the completion of a much-needed flood relief scheme.

It took years to come to fruition but it has been a great relief to residents of Mwrog Street and the Borthyn areas of Ruthin to hear they will never again have to fear the threat of flooding every time it rains hard.

Residents and businesses in Ruthin have suffered major flooding on numerous occasions over the years due to a blocked culvert but now the flood relief works will direct any excess water safely away from the area along a two kilometre diversion along a route to the west and north of the town.

The new watercourse joins the River Clwyd via an existing drainage channel, beginning in fields below Llanfwrog Church and heading off through agricultural land, crossing the A525 near the Livestock Market roundabout before joining the river.

Landscaping and fencing work still needs to be completed and Denbighshire workers will be removing the old sandbags from outside properties in the area during the runup to Christmas.

Residents who formed the campaign group, the Flood Action Committee, say the day is a land-mark in history for the town after decades of misery.

"After such a long time, residents can now feel safe in their own homes," said chairman Charles Davies.

Mr Davies gave thanks to all the committee members past and present for their commitment and energy over the last three years since the group was formed.

Assembly Member Alun Pugh, was also praised for his work in securing funding for the scheme which has cost in excess of £3 million.

"It is now up to the town and county councils to clean up Ruthin and maximise its full potential for residents and businesses alike," he said.

Cabinet lead member for sustainable development and the environment, Coun Mike German echoed Mr Davies in that the completion of the works would give peace of mind to the residents who have been affected by major flooding in previous years.

"Denbighshire has worked closely with its partners and the local community to complete the works as soon as possible and to minimise any disruption.

"A controlled quantity of water will continue to flow through the Mwrog Street culvert for environmental purposes and to clean the existing system but once the cleansing flow is exceeded, any further water is automatically diverted into the relief channel."

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The story

Of the

Ruthin Floods

2000

From

BBC News Reports

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