Emergency flooding work at Conwy Valley village

Sep 23 2010 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

PEOPLE in a small Conwy Valley village will be less at risk of flooding after blockages in the river were cleared by Environment Agency Wales this week.

Gravel carried down the Conwy River had built up by the bridge in Ysbyty Ifan, blocking some of the archways underneath the bridge.

This meant that dangerous floodwater backed up behind the bridge rather than flowing away downstream.

The work to clear the blockage involved cutting down trees in the stream and on the riverbank, which had also stopped water from flowing freely away from homes.

Eirian Roberts, clerk of Ysbyty Ifan Community Council, said: “The River Conwy flows through the middle of the village and can get quite high during heavy rain.

“We’re pleased that Environment Agency Wales has done this work because it will provide people with peace of mind.”

David Edwell, of Environment Agency Wales, said: “Local maintenance jobs such as these are just as important as the larger high profile schemes to prevent flooding.

“As a result of this work people living close to the river in Ysbyty Ifan are now at less risk of flooding.”