Council to buy homes at risk of flooding

A row of homes in a village in south Wales is to be bought by a local authority and demolished as the houses can no longer be protected from flooding caused by the climate crisis.

- Steven Morris

It will cost Rhondda Cynon Taf county borough council more than £2.5m to buy the 16 riverside properties, pay for legal costs and help to rehouse dozens of residents.

The Labour-led council believes it is the first time a local authority in the UK has bought such a large number of inland homes to protect householders from flooding caused by the climate emergency.

Residents of Clydach Terrace in Ynysybwl expressed relief and delight, explaining that children were too frightened to go to bed if it was raining and elderly people were terrified they would not be able to get out in time if their homes flooded again.

They said that when Storm Dennis hit in 2020, water from the nearby river, Nant Clydach, came into homes so fast that some people had to swim for safety. Some homes were left with almost two metres (6.5ft) of water in their downstairs rooms and it has been either impossible or very expensive for them to obtain insurance.