Following the serious flood encountered across Llandudno during Storm Babet, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, who was on site with residents fighting the flood, has sent an urgent letter to Conwy County Borough Council.
The Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy has highlighted to Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, Leader of the Council, that there was:
- A lack of preparedness;
- A lack of a united planned response;
- A need for a flood risk management plan for Llandudno.
During the storm, residents were affected in parts of the community including Liddell Park, the Oval, and the Tre Creuddyn estate.
Some residents resorted to trying to protect their homes by locking themselves in and placing towels beside doors holding flood water back; others were evacuated; and some were trapped because they had no means through which to escape from their homes safely.
Speaking after helping residents affected by the floods, Janet said:
“It has been heartbreaking to see residents in a state of distress, and feeling completely helpless in the midst of rising water.
“What I witnessed first-hand was complete chaos. Even I couldn’t get through to Conwy Council, spoke to a firefighter who was unsure as to where best to be, and was informed by North Wales Police that there was no plan to manage an incident like this in Llandudno.
“Many of us remember the 1993 flood. We trusted that lessons were learnt so to save the town from such devastation again. Clearly, public bodies had taken their eye off the ball, and now need to put a flood management plan in place, and communicate that to local residents.
“Everyone in Llandudno should be told what the strategy is should there be a similar flood again.”
ENDS
Yn dilyn y llifogydd difrifol a gafwyd ar draws Llandudno yn ystod Storm Babet, mae Janet Finch-Saunders AS, a oedd ar y safle gyda thrigolion yn ymladd y llifogydd, wedi anfon llythyr brys at Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy.
Mae’r Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy wedi tynnu sylw’r Cynghorydd Charlie McCoubrey, Arweinydd y Cyngor, at y canlynol:
- Diffyg paratoi;
- Diffyg ymateb unedig wedi'i gynllunio;
- Yr angen am gynllun rheoli perygl llifogydd ar gyfer Llandudno.
Yn ystod y storm, effeithiwyd ar drigolion mewn rhannau o'r gymuned gan gynnwys Parc Liddell, yr Oval, ac ystad Tre Creuddyn.
Roedd rhai trigolion yn gorfod ceisio amddiffyn eu cartrefi drwy gloi eu hunain i mewn a gosod tywelion wrth ymyl drysau oedd yn dal dŵr llifogydd yn ôl; cafodd cartrefi eraill eu gwagio; ac roedd rhai yn gaeth oherwydd nad oedd ganddyn nhw ffordd o ddianc o'u cartrefi yn ddiogel.
Yn siarad ar ôl helpu trigolion sydd wedi'u heffeithio gan y llifogydd, dywedodd Janet:
"Mae wedi bod yn dorcalonnus gweld trigolion mor anhapus, a theimlo'n hollol ddiymadferth wrth weld y dŵr yn codi.
"Yr hyn a welais yn uniongyrchol oedd anhrefn llwyr. Doeddwn i hyd yn oed ddim yn gallu siarad â Chyngor Conwy. Fe siaradais â diffoddwr tân oedd yn ansicr o ble oedd y lle gorau i fod, a chefais wybod gan Heddlu Gogledd Cymru nad oedd cynllun i reoli digwyddiad fel hyn yn Llandudno.
"Mae llawer ohonom yn cofio llifogydd 1993. Roedden ni’n hyderus bod gwersi wedi'u dysgu er mwyn achub y dref rhag dinistr o'r fath eto. Yn amlwg, roedd cyrff cyhoeddus wedi llaesu dwylo, ac mae angen iddyn nhw nawr roi cynllun rheoli llifogydd ar waith, a chyfleu hynny i drigolion lleol.
"Dylai pawb yn Llandudno gael gwybod beth yw'r strategaeth pe bai llifogydd tebyg yn digwydd eto."
DIWEDD
Dogfen: Llythyr at Arweinydd y Cyngor
