A FLOOD warning system on the approach to the Pembrokeshire seaside town of Tenby, once said to not work when its wet, is expected to be fully active soon after teething problems with software were identified, councillors heard.
The Gumfreston area near the south Pembrokeshire seaside town is regularly hit with flooding, with nearby county councillor Rhys Jordan has previously raising issues about improvements to the flood warning system; councillors once hearing flood warning signs didn’t “like operating when its wet,” an unfortunate state of affairs for such a system.
In a question submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council’s full council meeting of October 9, Cllr Jordan asked a question on the flood alert system at Gumfreston.
“On the weekend of September 13, heavy rainfall once again caused flooding on the B4318 at Gumfreston, beginning what has sadly become a predictable cycle of disruption each autumn and winter.
“Despite assurances previously given, residents have yet to see the promised flood alert service implemented. Could the Cabinet Member [Cllr Rhys Sinnett] explain why this commitment has not yet been delivered, and provide a clear timetable for when residents can expect this service to be operational?”
Responding, Cllr Sinnett said: “Over the past few months new bespoke depth sensors have been fabricated and installed,” adding further upgrades were expected in the next few weeks.
He went on to say: “On September 13 and 20 the flooding signs were activated; there was a minor error in the software [for the alerts] that needs to be rectified before it is rolled out to road users. It has now been corrected, final testing being needed; it is necessary to wait for the next flooding event before it can be made ‘live’.”
Cllr Jordan responded by saying the September 20 flooding, which happened after he submitted his question, had caused significant disruption to the Ironman triathlon event.
He said, while not wishing for disruption from flooding, he hoped that such an event would take place soon to get the scheme up-and-running, adding: “Hopefully these signs will work when its wet, which has been the long-term problem; they don’t like working when it’s wet.”
