Heavy flooding continues to disrupt Tenby today (January 4), with residents stating they have never seen the situation as critical as this.
A full road closure is still in place outside Kiln Park and along Marsh Road, with routes through to Penally and Gumfreston shut off, and the Clicketts area flooded too.
A large number of caravans at Kiln Park have been submerged in floodwater.
The flooding also spread to Lower Park Road, with access being managed by Pembrokeshire County Council maintenance staff, due to flooding at the bottom of the road, which was passable with caution yesterday, although staff from the Harbour Wealth office, had noted that cars were turning around and driving back up the one-way road.
In one garden at Quarry Cottages behind the office some swans even came to visit, after the Ritec river levels had risen!
County councillor for Tenby’s North Ward, Cllr Michael Williams has raised the ‘parlous situation’ at Quarry Cottages where the level of flood water is causing major concerns.
“The water has reached levels never seen before and was at one very close to entering properties,” he said.
“One resident who has lived in the street for many years has never seen the situation as critical as this. During last winter, during a similar situation I did raise with Dwr Cymru and Pembrokeshire County Council officers whether there was any possibility of improving the outfall by the construction of an additional outfall through the South Beach, thus allowing the Ritec valley to drain more effectively.
“I do understand that this is a very technical issue which is certainly well above my pay grade, but I think we have to look at every possible method to address what is a growing problem which appears to be happening far more frequently.
“It appears that the ongoing infilling of the flood plain over many years has exacerbated an already difficult situation.”
Cllr Williams said that he fully supports the concerns recently expressed by County councillor for St Florence ward Cllr Rhys Jordan on the issue at Gumfreston who has called for ‘immediate action’ to rectify recurring flooding on what is a main route in and out of Tenby, on the B4318 road.
“There certainly needs to be a very different approach in an attempt to address the issue - I believe it is time to think outside the box,” continued Cllr Williams.
“I raised similar concerns a number of years ago and that resulted in the installation of a traffic light warning system which did help, but the current situation demands a far more radical rethink,” he added.