Work has been completed on a major £350,000 scheme to protect residents in a flood-prone area of Tonyrefail.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council joined forces with the Welsh Assembly Government to upgrade the existing drainage system in the Tylcha Ganol/Tylcha Fach area in a bid to ease the impact heavy rainfall has on nearby homes.
Specialist civil engineering firm Dyer and Butler Ltd were appointed to carry out the work, which began in March this year and has seen over 50m of box culvert laid at depths of up to 4m underground, including through private properties and under the main Ely Valley Road.
Residents have been thanked for their patience and cooperation during the six months the work has taken to complete and it is now hoped the flood alleviation scheme will have the desired benefit for residents.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Leader Cllr Russell Roberts said: “This was a significant project and one we were pleased to be able to take forward on behalf of the residents who have suffered from repeated flooding due to the existing drainage system.
“They have endured flooding for several years and we hope this important scheme will alleviate that problem from now on.”
Ward Member Cllr Bob Macdonald added: “These were significant works that took place across the area, including in private gardens, driveways and under the main Ely Valley road.
“It was a challenge to deliver such a project but we are pleased it is now complete and hope residents soon start to see the benefits.”
Work began with the clearance of vegetation and trees from the site, which was carried out under the supervision of a consultant Ecologist due to the potential presence of roosting bats and nesting birds. During the works a consultant ecologist routinely checked the working area for the presence of otters as the heavier engineering works progressed.
