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Council workers have been praised for their efforts over the weekend in dealing with the fallout from storms Eunice and Franklin.

The council’s emergency response included:

• Dealing with 90 felled trees
• Managing 25 road closures to remove obstructions
• Responding to over 400 calls to the out of hours helpline
• Dealing with major incidents
• Continuously Inspecting and clearing 226 high risk culverts
• Responding to gully blockages and flooding to the Caerphilly roads network

Deri Library, on Bailey Street, Deri, will be closed for the “foreseeable future” after wind tore of its felt roof. The road had to be closed while debris was cleared up.

Council leader Philippa Marsden said: “Our dedicated workforce braved some of the worst conditions we have seen in recent years to support and protect the community and I would like to thank each and every one of them for their efforts.

“Teams from various services including highways, parks, housing, waste, public protection, social care and catering, went that extra mile and I’m sure the whole community will join me in recognising their amazing efforts.”

On Thursday, as Wales was preparing for Storm Eunice, dozens of council staff responded to a call for volunteers to help deliver free school meals.

Due to the red weather warning in place the council decided to cancel Friday’s planned free school meal deliveries.

This would have meant families without a free school meal delivery for the half-term school holidays.

Christina Harrhy, Chief Executive of Caerphilly County Borough Council sent out an appeal for volunteers willing to deliver the meals on Thursday.

Ms Harrhy said: “Nothing gets in the way – our collective commitment towards protecting our people and place is always at the forefront of all we do. Thanks so much to everyone who has volunteered over the past week but especially to those that stepped in this afternoon. I’m so proud of and so thankful to all involved.”

Unsettled week ahead

The Met Office has said it will remain unsettled this week, but the risk of further impacts from wind and rain is much lower than in recent days, particularly across the south.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Andy Page, said: “A strong jet stream is driving weather systems across the North Atlantic ocean with a succession of weather fronts moving into the UK bringing more wet and windy weather at times this week.”

“As Storm Franklin clears the UK and pushes into the near continent this afternoon the windy conditions will gradually ease and showers become fewer, leaving some dry, sunny weather for many.”