Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we will supply and fit. This can be back and front of property, if needed. For more information please contact: engineeringandtraffic@merthyr.gov.uk or call 01685 725 000.

There were a range of issues that caused the flooding. During Storm Bert, we had over 100mm of rainfall, which created both surface and ground water issues. In addition, the strong winds caused the leaves to fall and unfortunately block the previously cleaned culverts and grids.

We are reviewing the feasibility of using pumping equipment.

During Storm Bert we saw eight land slips across Merthyr Tydfil. Lots of areas needed immediate attention. Due to the extensive issues across entire borough, we visited the sites as soon as we could.

We did prepare on the days before the storm, such as cleaning culverts and grids, and arranged to have extra contractors on hand to support with the storm damage.

We needed to carry out investigations and identify the scale of the damage, then decide on the scheme of repair work required. This needed to happen prior to meeting with the residents, so we could communicate with clarity what we would do.

We have appointed Earth Science Partnership, who are undertaking a desktop study and will carry out ground investigations. These investigations will include drilling 65metre bore holes into the tip. Following the investigation works, WSP will then design a remediation scheme for the tip.

As of April 2025, monthly inspections are taking place. We are also in the process of installing monitoring equipment, together with an alert system. Further details will be provided in due course.

The ground investigation works are scheduled to complete by the end of September, along with installing the monitoring system on the tip. 

Over the next 12 months, information will be gathered on the tip, along with reviewing monitoring data captured, and monthly inspections. We will continue to liaise with residents as work progresses.

Residents will be kept informed via direct mail and in-person meetings, as and when required.

This is currently under review. Our Emergency Planning Department is with working with Welsh Government to identify the most effective alert system. As soon as a viable system is established, residents will be contacted.

The Council’s Emergency Planning team got in touch with the emergency services as soon as they were made aware of the issue.

An alternative route for was available via Talybont, however we also temporarily reopened the Ffynnon Dwyn road as soon as safety inspections were completed, as a contingency, and advised the emergency services accordingly.

We have contacted an officer within our school transport team today, asking them to contact the parents of any children affected by a change of route.

Welsh Water have a compensation scheme for both residents and businesses, information on which can be found here: dwrcymru.com/en/help-advice

Geotechnical Engineers from WSP, reassessed the road and deemed it safe to open temporarily due to the dry weather conditions. It would not have been possible to open the road under this emergency situation in wet weather conditions. Further inspections will be carried out as the need arises when the weather conditions change.  

The Council’s Engineering department have advised us that they will keep the road open as long as it is safe to do so. This will be heavily dependent on the weather. Engineering will continue to carry out regular safety inspections.

The landslides occurred on privately owned land and the condition of the land and culverts was unknown prior to storm Bert. The lack of maintenance of any culverts may have contributed to the landslides, however, the large volumes of water during storm Bert is most likely the principal cause. It is not possible for the Council to inspect every watercourse and culvert on private land regularly throughout the borough to ensure landowners are carrying out maintenance.

The Council does not have the resource to undertake this task, therefore it is not feasible to inspect every watercourse and culvert on privately owned land and then serve a legal notice on every individual landowner to carry out maintenance on their assets.

Landowners are responsible for maintaining watercourses and culverts. Merthyr Council are responsible for over 400 culverts on Council owned land and 11,900 road gullies with associated surface water drainage systems on the highway network.

The Council is currently awaiting reports from contractors outlining the results of ecology surveys of the area. 

The landowners have been contacted, and Engineering Contractor WSP is working on feasibility studies in terms of the scheme of works. Once we know what these works look like, we will be in a position to give a better indication of the timeline.

Unfortunately the Council’s Chief Executive and Head of Engineering were unavailable to attend

Because the meeting was organised at short notice we did not invite a representative from NRW. We will be sure to invite them to any future meetings discussing this.

We reached out to Welsh Water for a representative to joins the meeting, however they were unavailable. We were advised that a Customer Service representative was available in the village on Wednesday 14^th May to listen to resident’s concerns.

We assure you that this is not the case. We are working hard to resolve the very complex issues that are present within the village, especially around the access in and out.

As elected members we are advocates for you residents, and we are doing everything in our power to get these works done as quickly and effectively as possible.

Next steps for the landslips is covered within question 10. In terms of the water leak, Welsh Water are repairing the main and reinstating the highway. Hopefully the road will reopen the afternoon of Friday 16^th May.

Welsh Water are responsible for leaking water mains. Landowners are responsible for incidents on their land such as landslips, however, in the best interests of the residents of Pontsarn and Pontsticill, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council is taking action to remediate the landslip areas rather than serving notice on the relevant landowners.