Friday
19
April
Calls for better management of Clywedog water releases
25/02/2020 @ 10:18
More water needs to be released from Glyn Clywedog at times of dry weather to lessen the impact of flooding in the Severn Valley at times of heavy rain and storms, Montgomeryshire AM, Russell George has demanded.
Landowners in the Severn Valley have been hard hit yet again, along with motorists and businesses in and around Newtown and the lower parts of the Severn Valley over the past two weeks as a result of flooding.
Discussions have been going on with water companies and Natural Resources Wales about releasing more water from Clywedog and Lake Vyrnwy when it's dry.
This would mean more water can be retains when heavy rain occurs.
Llyn Clywedog was built in the 1960s to tackle river levels along the River Severn, whereas Lake Vyrnwy, which feeds into the Severn north of Welshpool, was built to supply water to Liverpool.
Mr George has reiterated his concerns and has called on the Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, the Environment Agency and Hafren Dyfrdwy to put in place measures which will better manage both reservoirs.
Mr George said: “The recent appalling weather conditions have once again exposed the failure in operational arrangements and flood risk management at Clywedog and Lake Vyrnwy which has resulted in both reservoirs overflowing, the consequence of which has been downstream flooding in both areas.
“The fact that we see continuous overflowing over the top of each reservoirs, demonstrates the lack of control of water discharge.
"Over a number of years, I have spoken of the necessity of a long term solution to resolve the flooding issues which causes so much frustration and consternation for local residents and farmers, but the recent storms have again demonstrated that not enough has been done to improve the flood risk management arrangements in spite of earlier commitments to discuss the section 20 operating agreement that is currently in place, to provide greater flood attenuation.
“I am now reiterating my calls for all agencies involved to work together to expedite a review of the management of the reservoirs at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure that there is a greater drawdown of water during periods of dry weather and I also believe that when flooding occurs, compensation should be paid to landowners who are affected.
“I think we can accept that there is always going to be consequences of serious weather conditions, but our local reservoirs can be much better managed to reduce the effect of adverse weather conditions.
“I will continue to question the Welsh Government Minister for Environment & Rural Affairs and the other agencies involved until we see a long term solution to this issue which causes so much exasperation in the local community.”
Mr George is due to meet agency representatives again next month.
Landowners in the Severn Valley have been hard hit yet again, along with motorists and businesses in and around Newtown and the lower parts of the Severn Valley over the past two weeks as a result of flooding.Discussions have been going on with water companies and Natural Resources Wales about releasing more water from Clywedog and Lake Vyrnwy when it's dry.
This would mean more water can be retains when heavy rain occurs.
Llyn Clywedog was built in the 1960s to tackle river levels along the River Severn, whereas Lake Vyrnwy, which feeds into the Severn north of Welshpool, was built to supply water to Liverpool.
Mr George has reiterated his concerns and has called on the Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, the Environment Agency and Hafren Dyfrdwy to put in place measures which will better manage both reservoirs.
Mr George said: “The recent appalling weather conditions have once again exposed the failure in operational arrangements and flood risk management at Clywedog and Lake Vyrnwy which has resulted in both reservoirs overflowing, the consequence of which has been downstream flooding in both areas.
“The fact that we see continuous overflowing over the top of each reservoirs, demonstrates the lack of control of water discharge.
"Over a number of years, I have spoken of the necessity of a long term solution to resolve the flooding issues which causes so much frustration and consternation for local residents and farmers, but the recent storms have again demonstrated that not enough has been done to improve the flood risk management arrangements in spite of earlier commitments to discuss the section 20 operating agreement that is currently in place, to provide greater flood attenuation.
“I am now reiterating my calls for all agencies involved to work together to expedite a review of the management of the reservoirs at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure that there is a greater drawdown of water during periods of dry weather and I also believe that when flooding occurs, compensation should be paid to landowners who are affected.
“I think we can accept that there is always going to be consequences of serious weather conditions, but our local reservoirs can be much better managed to reduce the effect of adverse weather conditions.
“I will continue to question the Welsh Government Minister for Environment & Rural Affairs and the other agencies involved until we see a long term solution to this issue which causes so much exasperation in the local community.”
Mr George is due to meet agency representatives again next month.
Photo: Flooding in the Severn Valley this week (©MyTown Media Ltd)
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