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As Blackwood residents endure yet more sleepless nights protecting their homes from flooding, questions have been raised as to why a Taylor Wimpey site was approved in the first place.
Residents in Cwmgelli Villas, Blackwood, spent their third Christmas clearing blocked drains to stop surface water running into their homes – and the recent storms have seen more flooding.
Caerphilly County Borough Council has expressed its frustration at this “ongoing issue”.
The response came just a day after recent storms caused yet more flooding to the area, a concern which was a factor when the council initially refused planning permission for homes to be built in 2015.
The decision was “subsequently overturned” after a Welsh Government planning inspector approved the build, according to the council.
At the time, Mark Roberts, who spoke on behalf of Taylor Wimpey, said: “Issues such as drainage would be addressed as part of a planning condition.”
In March 2021, the development was then approved by the council’s planning committee.
For resident Terrence Watkins, those ‘issues’ have never been resolved however. He said: “Why am I as a resident forced to protect my home during each incident with no help from the council or Taylor Wimpey.
“I’ve recently had a hernia operation and supposed to be resting. Instead, I’m out lifting drains and putting out sandbags yet again. It’s appalling and something needs to be done right now.”
Independent Cllr for Blackwood, Nigel Dix, has once again made his stance clear on the situation. He said: “Cwmgelli has had to endure another night of flooding, where residents had to take action to prevent their homes from flooding.
“Clearly Taylor Wimpey are incapable of managing the amount of water that is running from the site onto the properties below – an issue we never had prior to the development.
“The site should neve have been approved, especially without a drainage plan in place. Residents have been let down by Welsh government.”
Taylor Wimpey previously told Caerphilly Observer a water drainage connection unit will be built within the next month.
Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “The development has been beset by ongoing issues in relation to the surface water management on site with flooding impacting the residents around the site and highway users.
“There are no planning enforcement issues relating to the control of surface and groundwater during the construction phase of the development. However, the Council are inspecting the area on a weekly basis and are in regular contact with Taylor Wimpey and continue to push for improvements to be made in how Taylor Wimpey are managing their site.
“We are aware that Natural Resources Wales have also formally written to Taylor Wimpey in relation to pollution impacts on the River Sirhowy.”
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