Welsh Government responds to Storm Dennis Aftermath

The Welsh Government has confirmed more than 1,000 homes and businesses across Wales have been affected by flooding over the last two weeks.

At a press conference this morning at the Senedd, Environment Minister Lesley Griffiths said the government is only just starting to assess the damage caused by Storm Dennis.

Environment Minister Lesley Griffiths speaking this morning in the Senedd

The Welsh Government also admitted that even with a £10 million emergency fund to help those affected, more money is going to be needed from the UK government, and more conversations will be held between the First Minister and the UK Prime Minister , Boris Johnson.

The Environment Minister also revealed there would be an investigation into the flooding in Pentre, one of the worst hit areas where people’s homes were flooded twice in the space of a few days.

Residents say the situation was made worse because Natural Resources Wales removed 10% of the forest from the Pentre area and then branches from the chopped down trees prevented water from properly draining away.

Natural Resources Wales said the trees were removed because they were diseased, and the removal was routine.

It was also revealed that the First Minister Mark Drakeford also held talks with Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, over concerns about coal tips following a landslide in Tylorstown in the Rhondda last week.  

The First Minister and Secretary of State agreed their governments would work together to urgently assess the safety of tips and ensure they are being properly inspected and monitored.