MEMBERS of Neath Port Talbot Council have approved a new flood risk management strategy for the area which sets out how they intend to deal with flood risks and mitigate the impact of flooding to local communities and businesses.
The plan was approved at a full council meeting held on July 9, where councillors were presented with the final version of the document which will be used to guide the authority over the next six to seven years.
It comes after what was described as an increase in “significant flood events” in the area in recent years, with 300 properties in Neath Port Talbot having suffered from internal flooding since 2020 compared to 130 flooded properties between 2013 and 2020.
The plans say while it will not be possible to prevent all flooding in the area, as rainfall events become more “unpredictable, intense, and frequent” it will take a more pro-active approach to managing the risks.
The plan includes a number of steps to do this, such as the development of sustainable drainage systems, the maintenance of flood defence and conveyance assets, and the implementation of early warning systems, with a focus also put on developing community resilience.
It also describes three local areas – Neath, Briton Ferry and Port Talbot – as “flood risk areas” identified by Natural Resources Wales, along with 30 other areas across Wales.
The plan reads: “This Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and Plan sets out how we intend to deal with flood risk from surface water, ordinary watercourses, and groundwater within the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.
“It describes how we, as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) will mitigate the risk of flooding to local communities and businesses across the county, with the aim to improve resilience to our communities, infrastructure, and the wider environment.”
Speaking at the meeting, councillor Scott Jones of Gwynfi and Croeserw commended the plan saying: “This document is not only a technical strategy it is a commitment to our communities.
“It ensures that we continue to protect people, property and the environment through the effective planning, partnership and investment.”
The second version of the strategy was later approved after a consultation period which took place between February and March of 2025.
Officers added that the six-year plan would be reviewed periodically, though noted that some schemes could be delayed due to slippage through delays in business cases or other issues beyond the council’s control.
