WESTERN MAIL MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2020  5
STORM DENNIS
>>Sardis Road car park
flooded, causing a
waterfall in Pontypridd
“It’s the ones without insurance I
have concerns about. You have
neighbours who haven’t got insur-
ance.
“We have lots of helpers here pull-
ing up carpets, trying to get it drier
than what it was.”
Meanwhile, a landslide tore down a
mountain between Tylorstown and
Ferndale in the Rhondda following
heavy rainfall caused by Storm Den-
nis.
Fortunately no-one is believed to
have been hurt and minimal damage
was caused as the ground slid down
the mountain into a culvert.
In a tweet, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Council leader Andrew Morgan said
RCT had been “very badly affected”.
The council has set up rest centres
for those affected in Sobell Leisure
Centre, Aberdare, Hawthorn Leisure
Centre, Llantrisant Leisure Centre
and Rhondda Sports Centre.
Cllr Morgan said: “Have just sat in
to hear the latest multi-agency meet-
ing, huge response from all services
but the scale of this flood event is
massive! Have also just spoken with
the First Minister, it’s clear RCT has
>>Pontypridd High
Street is flooded
been very badly affected.
“Please stay safe, do not drive
unless necessary.”
Visitors have been urged to stay
away from Ysbyty Cwm Cynon in
Mountain Ash.
In a statement shared on Twitter,
Headmaster in solo battle to save school from water
A SCHOOL has been left under
water despite a headmaster spend-
ing all night trying to divert the
flooding away.
Llanelwedd Church in Wales Pri-
mary School has been left under a
metre of water after Storm Dennis
hit.
Headmaster Adam Shearman
raced to the four-classroom primary
school in Builth Wells yesterday
after being contacted by a con-
cerned neighbour at around 4am.
Heavy rainfall means a classroom,
canteen, staff toilets and office have
all been hit by the extreme weather.
Carolyne Finlow-Borrowdale,
friends of the school chairwoman,
>>Taff’s Well lawn bowls
club under water after the
Taff breaks its banks
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University
Health said: “Due to Storm Dennis
there is currently very limited access
to Ysbyty Cwm Cynon.”
“We have arrangements for staff to
get to and from the site and for medi-
cation and food for patients. Please
don’t try to visit the site at this time.”
Mountain Ash Comprehensive
School said: “We are thinking of eve-
ryone affected by the floods overnight
and hope everyone is safe. Parts of
school are affected . . . we are waiting
for the waters to recede before assess-
ing.”
And parts of Carmarthen have
been battered by torrential rain as
Storm Dennis blew through Wales.
The Quay in the town centre was
under water yesterday, with high tide
having taken place shortly before
noon.
The A4242 in the centre of town,
between Blue Street and Morfa Lane,
had been closed off due to surface
water.
Other parts of the town, including
Abergwili, have also been badly
affected. Abergwili Road is impassa-
ble, and the football pitch next to the
highway is totally under water.
Other roads near Carmarthen are
flooded, including Nantgaredig
Bridge and the parts of the A40
towards the Dryslwyn area.
Several businesses have also been
hit, less than 18 months after the
destruction of Storm Callum. On that
occasion in October 2018, several
shops and other outlets in the Pen-
sarn area were badly hit, along with
businesses in the Quay and Llangun-
nor areas.
Dexter’s Steakhouse, which was
forced to close for months as a result
of Storm Callum, again had to shut
up shop yesterday due to flood
water.
They said they were “absolutely
gutted” by what has happened, but
did not indicate how long they will
need to remain shut.
said: “At one point there was four or
five inches of water and within min-
utes it got to a couple feet of water.
“It’s an awful sight, children’s
work is floating around. It’s utterly
devastating.
“At the moment we can’t do a lot
until the water recedes. The school
grounds and playground is under
water.
“We are estimating we have lost
90% of what’s in that classroom
from computers to tables and
chairs.”
Ms Finlow-Borrowdale, who has
a six-year-old daughter in the
school, said: “[Mr Shearman] had
been there for six or seven hours
Parts of Cardiff submerged
as the Taff breaks its banks
PARTS of Cardiff have been sub-
merged in water after the River Taff
bursts its banks during Storm Den-
nis.
Homes in Llandaff have been
flooded and some homes in the
Forest Farm area of Whitchurch
were evacuated as the river levels
rose yesterday morning, and large
areas of Bute Park and the Taff
Trail have been submerged in
water.
Katie Davies, 26, who lives in
Pen-y-darren, Whitchurch, was
woken by the police knocking on
her door about 8am to advise them
to leave the house.
“I looked out and couldn’t
believe how high the river was,”
she said.
“I have lived here all my life and
have never seen it like that. There
is a path and an embankment
between the river and our houses
so I never thought it would get
anywhere close.
“The house hasn’t been flooded
but it is very close, and the Forest
Farm Road by the rugby club is
completely under water and there
is a newish estate there, but I don’t
know if they have been told to get
out too.”
The 40 ponies at Cardiff Riding
School in Pontcanna Fields were
also evacuated to safety.
Hundreds of people also came
out yesterday to see some of the
highest river levels seen in the city
for years as water completely cov-
ered the Taff Trail at Llandaff and
Blackweir.
Cardiff council warned people
to stay away from areas around the
River Taff, especially at Pontcanna
Fields.
They said: “Please be advised
that flood warnings remain in
place for the River Taff at Pontcan-
Meanwhile, one of the worst affect-
ed businesses in 2018 was the Cres-
selly Arms in Pontargothi, a pictur-
esque pub which sits right next to the
River Cothi on the A40 between
Carmarthen and Landeilo.
Posting on Facebook, the Cresselly
Arms said: “I honestly can’t believe
we are having to write this AGAIN in
such a short period of time, but yes,
Storm Dennis has hit us. Absolutely
devastated. We are closed today,
sorry everyone and we will keep you
all updated when we open back up.
Thank you.”
trying to stop the water coming in.
He moved everything and he didn’t
feel like he could leave.”
A fundraising page has now been
set up to help cover the costs of the
damage.
The 44-year-old said: “We are in
an absolutely wonderful communi-
ty, so many people from the com-
munity have said they will come
and help us clear up.
“At least we have half-term but
there’s a lot of things we can’t do in
a week. But we will do our best.
“They are so dedicated, the par-
ents, the carers, everyone is
involved it’s a really special little
school.”
na Fields today. Please remain safe
and avoid the area.”
The tennis courts in Hailey Park
were submerged and the Taff Trail
is completely under water in many
places.
Alison Morris, from Whitchurch,
came out with her children Anna-
bel, seven, and Rory, five, to see
the river.
“It seemed to rain most of yes-
terday and all last night, so we
knew the river would be high, but
we are shocked by just how high it
is,” she said. “We often come down
to play tennis at Hailey Park on
Sunday, but we definitely won’t be
able to do that today.
“There are so many people who
have come out to see it, but the
good thing is that everyone seems
to be doing it safely and respecting
just how dangerous it could be.”
Drone footage showed Bute
Park, which will remain closed to
the public today, under water, with
the Gorsedd circle just visible.
In Cardiff Bay, the lower board-
walk and Roald Dahl Plass areas of
Mermaid Quay have also been
closed to the public due to the
adverse weather conditions.
Council leader Huw Thomas
said last night: “Over the past
24-36 hours we have experienced
the highest river flows recorded
since Cardiff Bay was impounded,
over 700 cubic metres per second,
combined on the Taff and Ely.
“A significant amount of debris,
however, has come down the riv-
ers and into Cardiff Bay and there
is the potential for more debris,
currently beyond the harbour lim-
its, still to come downstream. I
want to assure residents that over
the coming days our teams will be
working hard to clean up the area
and to help where help is needed.”
Laser Station, on Station Approach
next to Carmarthen Bridge, said they
would be closed until further notice
due to flooding.
According to Carmarthenshire
Council, a number of roads were
closed yesterday lunchtime, includ-
ing the A4069 between Llangadog
and Llandovery, the St Clears Ford
crossing near Waunbricks Kennels,
and Bethlehem Road between Ffair-
fach and Bethlehem, while tempo-
rary traffic lights are in place on the
A484 at Cwmduad due to a minor
landslip.
A section of the B4300 near Golden
Grove was closed for most of Sunday,
and police were at the scene to assist
one driver who was stuck in his vehi-
cle.
Donna Littlechild, duty tactical
manger at NRW, said: “Storm Dennis
has caused significant impacts across
Wales particularly in the south and
west, from strong winds and heavy,
persistent rain.
“Our teams have been out day and
night over the last 48 hours to reduce
the risk to people and their homes.
“We have installed temporary
defences to protect communities as
much as possible, as well as deploy-
ing pumps, closing flood gates and
supporting emergency services.
“Our thoughts are with those peo-
ple who have been affected as we
know how devastating flooding can
be.”