Flood Risk Management
Flood Risk Management Plan
The Flood Risk Management Plan has been prepared by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council in consultation with its flood risk partners in its role as a Lead Local Flood Authority to provide a coordinated response to flood risk within our communities.
The plan is the final process in a series of actions laid out under the Flood Risk Regulations 2009 which required the preparation of:
- A Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment
- Flood Hazard and Flood Risk Maps
- A Flood Risk Management Plan
It sets out how NPTCBC will, in conjunction with stakeholders as appropriate, manage flood risk over the next 6 years to ensure that economic, social and environmental benefits are maximised against the context of available resources.
The plan also takes forward the objectives and actions set out in our Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (published in June 2013) and the objectives set out in the Welsh Government’s National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy.
These objectives focus on reducing the adverse consequences of flooding on human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity. The plan highlights the areas most at risk of flooding from surface water and ordinary watercourses within the County Borough, draws conclusions from these risks, and sets out the proposed mitigation measures.
Flood Risk Management Strategy
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council in its new role as Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) has to ensure that a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) is produced for the area.
The LFRMS determines the locally significant flood risk for the area, focusing mainly on flooding from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses, and helps everyone affected to understand and manage flood risk. It also considers significant interactions with main rivers and sewers.
The LFRMS must be consistent with what is stated in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and the national strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management in Wales.
The main aim of the strategy is to reduce the risk of flooding and the social and economic damage that flooding causes, in a sustainable manner. The LFRMS outlines the legislation with regard to flood risk, the nature of flood risk, the objectives for managing flood risk and the range of actions that could be undertaken. It will also consider what funding is available and how flood risk management could be used to make this funding adequately deal with existing and future flood risks.
Downloads
- Local Flood Risk Management Strategy - Summary (PDF 2.07 MB)
- Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (PDF 8.17 MB)
Flood Risk Management Act
The Government through the Department of Environment, Food and Rural affairs (DEFRA) and subsequently through the Welsh Government, have produced a series of High Level Targets that Natural Resources Wales and in turn Lead Local Flood Authority’s must meet in order to manage and reduce the risk to people and property from flooding incidents.
Neath Port Talbot CBC, as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) is required by the Flood Risk Regulations (2009), EU Floods Directive 2007/60/EC and Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to take reasonable steps to prevent or mitigate the risk of flooding to people and property. However, it must be noted that flooding is a natural process and no drainage system or flood protection measures can give absolute protection from all flooding events.
The Council have powers under the Land Drainage Act 1991, Highways Act 1980 and Coastal Protection Act 1949 to enforce on private land owners to ensure flood risk is mitigated and our Highways & Drainage Services department ensures basic maintenance of certain assets that are under the ownership of the council is undertaken routinely.
The Council will aim to:-
- Provide advice and guidance to residents, who may be affected by a flood event, on ways to alleviate the risk of flooding to their properties.
- Have engineers and maintenance workers on duty to provide immediate support at key locations and ensure that defences and drainage system are inspected, maintained and works carried out at the earliest opportunity.
- Maintain and clear road networks impacted by severe weather.
- If necessary, assist in the evacuation of residents and the provision of temporary accommodation through rest centres.
- Respond to requests for emergency assistance from the public based on priorities and also on the availability of resources, if safe to do so.
- Work with multi agency partners to minimise the impact of flooding and storms on the communities in Neath Port Talbot CBC and ensure the continuity of key services.
At times of emergency, the Council will endeavour to protect the public at large and will not be able to assist a large number of individual homeowners who may find their properties threatened.