Heledd Fychan Canol De Cymru - South Wales Central

On Tuesday 13th September, Professor Elwen Evans KC's independent review of local government section 19 and Natural Resources Wales reports into extreme flooding in the winter of 2020 and 2021 was debated in the Senedd. Secured by Plaid Cymru as part of the Cooperation Agreement, the review is an important step to improve how flood risk management, including the response to flooding instances and their aftermath, is delivered across Wales.

Responding to the report, Heledd Fychan MS, the Plaid Cymru regional Member for South Wales Central whose region experienced devastating flooding in 2020 stated: "Having consistently called for an independent inquiry into the floods, I welcome the report and thank Professor Elwen Evans KC for leading this work. I’m also pleased that I was able to submit evidence to the review and would like to thank everyone that contacted me as part of this work and allowed me to share their personal experiences of flooding.

“The review highlights many of the issues that I and residents have been raising for years, so I'm pleased to see that it acknowledges the ineffectiveness of the section 19 process and the need for it to be redesigned.

“Though the report offers potential solutions for the future, many communities continue to have unanswered questions about the events of 2020. I will continue to fight for answers, so that lessons are learnt and all communities that remain at risk receive the answers, support and investment they need and deserve.”