(Title Image: Rhondda Leader)
- Petitions demand a full independent public inquiry into the February 2020 floods.
- Proponents of an inquiry say residents were unsatisfied with the statutory reports prepared by authorities.
- Opponents say a public inquiry would be expensive and take a long time.
P-05-1010 “An independent inquiry into the 2020 flooding in Rhondda Cynon Taf so that lessons are learned”
Submitted by Cllr. Heledd Fychan
Signatures: 6,017
Chair of the Petitions Committee, Janet Finch-Saunders MS (Con, Aberconwy), said many members of the committee were moved by the terrible stories of those who were affected by the February 2020 flooding (which, it’s worth pointing out, hit RCT hard but also affected the Conwy Valley and Caerphilly particularly badly too).
The petition calls for a full independent public inquiry into the flooding so that necessary steps can be taken to prevent it from happening again in the future. The statutory report (Section 19) carried out by RCT Council and other bodies (presumably Natural Resources Wales) had limitations because the authorities were effectively investigating themselves.
A public inquiry would also consider the wider issues, including the economic and health impacts as well as the implications of the climate emergency.
Andrew RT Davies MS (Con, South Wales Central) thought improvements could be made to flood warning systems, which failed on several occasions this year, as well as maintenance of culverts and alike.
Leanne Wood MS (Plaid, Rhondda) said it was no surprise that people lack confidence in the system when authorities investigate themselves. There was too much buck-passing, while opponents shout down a public inquiry due to the cost and time involved – but you can’t put a price on giving people peace of mind.
Mick Antoniw MS (Lab, Pontypridd) made that very argument – despite the good intentions behind the call, statutory public inquiries take time and are expensive. It was unlikely to add much to what we already knew happened. Considerable repair work has been undertaken by RCT Council and the Welsh Government. It was time for the UK Government to make good on their promise of up to £80million in relief funding.
In response, Environment, Energy & Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths (Lab, Wrexham), listed the sums of money awarded by the Welsh Government to deal with the aftermath.
She agreed on the need to learn lessons, but thought criticism of the Section 19 reports denigrated the professional integrity of those who undertook them. The threat from flooding hasn’t been downplayed and Natural Resources Wales has concluded that the conversation about flooding should continue.
The Minister seemingly neither ruled-in nor ruled-out a public inquiry in the future, but thought there was enough evidence available to form an opinion. Any new evidence would be welcome but is yet to be presented.
The Senedd unanimously noted the petition.
