The story
Of the
Ruthin Floods
2000
From
BBC News Reports
Monday, 30 October, 2000, 17:05 GMT
Monday 6 November 2000
Roads became rivers as the flood water rose
Thousands of sandbags were laid over the weekend
Storms wreak chaos around
Wales
Homes and business have been flooded out,
roads and train services closed and public
services disrupted by storms across Wales.
Winds of up to 100 miles per hour have left
behind a trail of communications chaos for
travellers and have cut off power to some
homes.
People needed to be evacuated from their
homes in several places across Wales as the
flood waters reached dangerous levels.
Emergency services in south Wales took more
than 500 calls from members of the public
from midnight. Monday, 6 November, 2000, 13:52
GMT
Flooding causes havoc in
north
Flooding has caused
devastation across
north Wales for the
second time in a
week.
Ruthin is cut off with
several feet of water
in the town centre, as
is the centre of Mold.
Hundreds of homes
Last week's rain swelled
are without power
rivers
and some pensioners
had to be rescued by lifeboat crews.
The floods also brought chaos to the roads.
The A525 between Denbigh and Ruthin is
unpassable.
The emergency services and local authorities
have said the situation is worse than it was
at its peak a week ago.
At least two inches of rain has fallen - and
the downpour is continuing.
Thursday, 30 November, 2000, 07:16 GMT
Flood victims seek urgent
action
The town of Ruthin
suffered some of the
worst of the floods
which hit Britain
nearly a month ago.
Some areas of the
town were severely
flooded twice in a
fortnight.
Denbighshire Council
has put the overall bill
for the flooding at
around £5m.
Around 200 people attended an initial meeting
Flood victims in a north Wales town are
meeting to discuss moves to seek support for
urgent action to solve the problems being
experienced.
Victims of the recent floods in Denbighshire
have formed an action group to press the
council into action.
More than 200 people held an initial meeting
at Ruthin town hall organised by the
Environment Agency.
Mwrog Street in Ruthin was badly affected in
the floods, with some properties left under
several feet of water.
Many local residents are angry at what they
see as the council's generally negative
response to the crisis, which left some
properties flooded twice in two weeks.
Worst of the floods
Residents are calling for the culvert under the
badly-hit Mwrog Street to be replaced, as well
as mitigation measures on the River Clwyd.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency
said it wanted to work with Denbighshire
council and the National Assembly to find
solutions - and the meeting was important to
allow flood victims to express their feelings
Ruthin was hit by severe
flooding
Saturday, 20 October, 2001, 16:24 GMT 17:24 UK
Floods return days after clearup
The Park Place Hotel also bore the brunt of
the flood water - inches of mud can be seen
outside and inside the pub.
About 20 homes and half a dozen businesses
were affected and local people say the recent
work on the culvert which runs under the
street is too little, too late.
They also say they had no warning of Friday
night's flood.
Eifion Hughes, vice-chairman of a local flood
action committee, said: "People are just so
frustrated that it has happened again.
Flooding returns to Ruthin.
Heavy rain has brought renewed flooding to a
north Wales town just days after repairs had
finished at some properties damaged by last
year's flood water.
"People are so angry. They just cannot
believe that it has happened again."
Residents and businesses in the Borthyn area
of Ruthin are once again counting the cost
after the rain on Friday night resulted in
water gushing out of a culvert and running
into Mwrog Street and
Denbigh Road.
Pump water
Rhyl was the wettest
place in the UK
overnight receiving
30mm of rain in just
over three hours but it
is the people of Ruthin
who are demanding
answers about their
prospects for the
winter.
But Councillor Elwyn Edwards, the leader of
the council, said the local authority had been
working hard to try and sort the culvert out
once and for all.
Home and cars in Ruthin's
Denbighshire County
2000 floods
Council has been
accused of doing very little over the past year
to ensure the town is better protected.
Last month Environment Agency Wales
warned that up to 120,000 homes in the
country could be at risk of floods if there is a
repeat of last year's heavy rain.
A mopping up operation is underway once
again in Ruthin's Mwrog Street after six
inches of flood water rushed into a chip shop
and hairdressers which only reopened last
week after last year's flood.
Mud
He added: "This is the third flood now and
people are absolutely devastated. Some of
them have only moved back in two or three
weeks ago after the last flood."
He said a £1.5m proposal to divert the
stream water away from Mwrog Street would
be ready to go to consultation at the
beginning of November with the project
expected to be finished by next summer.
He added that in the meantime the council
hoped to get the welsh Assembly's support
for a short-term scheme for this winter in
which pumps would be used to pump water
from the culvert.
Monday, 22 October, 2001, 12:58 GMT 13:58 UK
Criticism over flood damage
Council officials in north Wales are continuing
to clear up after heavy rain brought flooding,
amid criticism some of the damage could
have been prevented.
The operation in Ruthin began after
downpours at the weekend, just days after
the completion of repairs to homes damaged
in last autumn's
flooding.
term scheme for this winter, using pumps to
take away excess water from the culvert at
Mwrog Street.
Last month, Environment Agency Wales
warned that up to 120,000 homes in the
country could be at risk of floods if there is a
repeat of last year's heavy rain.
At the weekend in Ruthin, the Park Place
Hotel bore the brunt of the flood water inches of mud can be seen outside and inside
the pub.
Plans for a £1.5m
flood defence scheme
to prevent further
flooding hitting Mwrog
Street and the
Borthyn area this
winter are not due to
be finished until next
summer.
About 20 homes and half a dozen businesses
were affected and local people say the recent
work on the culvert which runs under the
street is too little, too late.
Denbighshire County
Home and cars in Ruthin's
Council has been
accused by businesses 2000 floods
in the town of not acting quickly enough in
the past 12 months to avoid repeated
flooding.
Rhyl was the wettest place in the UK on
Friday, receiving 30mm of rain in just over
three hours but it is the people of Ruthin who
are demanding answers about their prospects
for the winter.
Eifion Hughes, vice-chairman of a local flood
action committee, said: "This is the third flood
that has taken place in 12 months. People are
just so frustrated that it has happened again.
Elsewhere in Wales, flooding was reported at
Tintern, near Chepstow and a flood warnings
were in force for the River Vyrnwy from
Llasantffraid to Shrawardine, as well as the
Severn from Caerhowel to Trewern and the
Afon Clwyd at Ruthin.
'People are frustrated'
They also say they had no warning of Friday
night's flood.
"People are so angry."
But council leader
Elwyn Edwards said the
council had been
working hard to try and
sort the culvert out
once and for all.
The proposed defences
focus on diverting the
stream water away
from Mwrog Street.
Flood watches were also in force for north
east Powys area and the Vale of Clwyd.
This is a difficult
technical situation
and the flood action
group have to
recognise this
Coun Elwyn
Edwards, leader
Denbighshire County
Council
The scheme is due to go to consultation at
the beginning of November before work
begins.
Coun Edwards said the authority hoped to get
the Welsh Assembly's support for a short-
Wednesday, 7 November, 2001, 08:53 GMT
Ruthin flood defence plan
unveiled
The aim is to give local people an opportunity
to see the plans and speak to the officers and
consultants involved so that they give their
own opinion on how to end the town's repeat
flooding problem.
Divert stream
Residents will be invited to fill in a
questionnaire on their preferred route.
Flooding returns to Ruthin
People whose homes have been flooded
repeatedly despite plans for £1.5m flood
defence scheme in their north Wales town are
being invited to view an exhibition outlining
how the project will work.
Denbighshire County Council is holding the
two-day exhibition in Ruthin to assauge the
anger of town people who say more should
have been done to prevent flood damage to
their property.
Last month the town was flooded for the third
time
in a year after heavy
rain deluged the
Mwrog Street culvert
causing damage in the
Borthyn area.
Businesses accused
Denbighshire County
Council of not doing
enough to prevent the
flooding.
The local authority has Home and cars in Ruthin's
2000 floods
responded with
exhibition, on 7-8 November, which shows
the two alternative routes for the proposed
long-term flood prevention scheme which is
due for completition next summer.
The proposed defences focus on diverting the
stream water away from Mwrog Street.
Council officers and technical consultants for
the local authority will be at the hall on
Denbigh Road from 0930GMT to 1830GMT on
both days.
Councillor David Morris, Cabinet member
with lead responsibility for environment,
said: "Denbighshire is seeking views about
the proposals to alleviate flooding in the
western side of Ruthin.
"Flooding occurs as a result of surcharging of
the watercourse which flows through
Llanfwrog and enters the River Clwyd via the
Mwrog Street culvert.
"Consultants acting for the county council
have determined that to alleviate the flooding
caused by this watercourse it will be
necessary to completely divert the stream
from its current route in Mwrog Street.
Flood risk
"Two alternative routes have been identified
and the county council wishes to have the
views of the public.
"These will be taken into account along with
technical, financial and environmental
factors, when the final route is chosen."
People who are not able to attend the
exhibition this week will have an opportunity
to see it at Ruthin library where it will be for
a week from Monday 12 November.
In September, Environment Agency Wales
warned that up to 120,000 homes in the
country could be at risk of floods if there is a
repeat of last year's heavy rain.
Thursday, 17 January, 2002, 10:19 GMT
Flood relief plans for town
Around 200 homes were flooded in Ruthin
Plans to protect a north east Wales town from
costly flooding problems have been passed by
Denbighshire County Councillors.
Officers approved the preferred option expected to cost around £900,000 - which will
see water diverted to the north of the town
and into the River Clwyd.
Over 90% of local people backed the scheme
however some voiced safety concerns over
the plans.
Bryn Davies,
development manager
for Cymdeithas Tai
Clwyd said the
scheme was broadly
welcomed.
Heavy rain
Residents repeated their concerns to the local
authority last year after the town was flooded
for the third time in 12 months.
Heavy rain deluged the Mwrog Street culvert
and caused damage in the Borthyn area.
June Jones has lived in Ruthin for 13 years
and has been flooded four times, in 2001 she
was left homeless for 5 months.
Mrs Jones - who backs the plans - said the
floods caused more than £18,000 worth of
damage to her home, she has backed the
council's scheme to divert stream water away
from her home.
But at Llys Famau,
the plans show an
open stream with no
fencing, he said.
Viable option
Ruthin was badly effected by
the floods
"If children went to
play there, their
parents couldn't see them so we would like a
fence."
An alternative plan would have diverted the
culvert beneath Mwrog Street - but the
majority of local people questioned opposed
it.
The local authority
outlined the flood
prevention scheme
after criticism from
local businesses, who
had accused them of
not doing enough to
prevent the flooding.
"Consultants acting for the county council
have determined that to alleviate the
flooding, it will be necessary to completely
divert the stream from its current route in
Mwrog Street."
If you look on
Mwrog Street
where I live, it still
looks like Beirut
June Jones, from
Ruthin
Specialist consultants
were drafted in to work with the Welsh
Assembly and the Environment Agency to
determine a flood alleviation scheme for the
town.
Councillor David Morris, cabinet member with
responsibility for environment, said:
She said the town still has not recovered: "If
you look on Mwrog Street where I live, it still
looks like Beirut - people are not happy to
take their sandbags away."
Consultants agreed that diverting the stream
to the north of the town is the most viable
option as it will take the stream away from
the centre of Ruthin whilst reducing the flows
in the River Clwyd.
However, it could result in the loss of farming
land and increase the risk of flooding to
agricultural areas.
Work is now expected to begin in the
summer of 2002.
Thursday, 6 June, 2002, 16:01 GMT 17:01 UK
Flood relief plans on target
Homes in Ruthin have suffered repeated flooding
A scheme to protect north Wales residents
who have been flooded out of their homes on
numerous occasions is on target to start this
summer.
The project - costing nearly £900,000 - aims
to divert water away from houses in Ruthin
which were last flooded
in October.
Council bosses in
Denbighshire plan to
re-direct a brook which
runs under Mwrog
Street along farmland
to Denbigh Road to join
the River Clwyd away
from the town.
A second round
of negotiations
with landowners is
now necessary to
finalise details and
secure formal
agreement to
access and acquire
land for the
More than 90% of local scheme
people backed the
initiative during the
initial consultation
Denbighshire
process.
County Council
Spokesman
A council spokesman
said: "A second round of negotiations with
landowners is now necessary to finalise
details and secure formal agreement to
access and acquire land for the scheme.
"Subject to the successful completion of this
process it remains our intention to commence
scheme construction in late summer."
The local authority
initiated the
prevention project
following criticism
from business
owners, who accused
them of not doing
enough to prevent
the flooding.
Specialist consultants
were drafted in to
Ruthin was badly effected by
the floods
work with the Welsh
Assembly and the
Environment Agency to determine a flood
alleviation scheme for the town.
Residents repeated their concerns last year
after the town was flooded for the third time
in 12 months.
Agricultural damage
Heavy rain deluged the Mwrog Street culvert
and caused damage in the Borthyn area.
Consultants agreed diverting the stream to
the north of the town was the most viable
option as it would take the stream away from
the centre of Ruthin while reducing the flow
in the River Clwyd.
However, it could result in the loss of farming
land and increase the risk of flooding to
agricultural areas.
In the meantime, a raised roundabout has
been erected in Mwrog Street as a temporary
measure.
If flood water does come gushing into the
street it will be diverted into a local park and
river.
Wednesday, 4 September, 2002
Flood relief plan gets goahead
A scheme to protect residents in Ruthin who
have been flooded out of their homes on
numerous occasions has been approved.
The project, which will cost just under £1m,
was agreed during a meeting of Denbighshire
councillors on
Wednesday.
The problem will be
tackled by diverting
water away from
houses in Ruthin which
were last flooded in
October 2001.
I couldn't see
that they would
turn it down, the
only problem is
it'll take five
months to
complete
Severe flooding has
severely affected
residential and
June Jones, Mwrog
commercial properties
Street resident
around the Mwrog
Street and Borthyn areas of the town.
June Jones, who has lived in Mwrog Street for
14 years, and has been flooded out of her
home four times welcomed the council's
decision.
"It'll mean that we haven't got to jump out of
bed all winter wondering if we've been
flooded.
"I couldn't see that
they would turn it
down, the only
problem is it'll take
five months to
complete."
Since 1998 there have
been a number of
separate flooding
incidents resulting
from problems with a
culvert which runs
from Mwrog Street to
the River Clwyd.
The town was badly effected
by the floods
Under the new project a brook which runs
under the street and along farmland to
Denbigh Road will be re-directed to join the
River Clwyd.
The water will then be carried away from the
town.
Improve protection
The local authority initiated the prevention
project after business owners accused them
of not tackling the problem.
The Welsh Assembly and the Environment
Agency were drafted in last year to
determine a flood alleviation scheme for the
town.
Councillors carried out a consultation last
year over the plans and more than 90% of
the public were in favour of the initiative.
Eryl Williams, leader of the local authority,
said the project will help Ruthin households.
"A lot of work has already been carried out to
reduce the risks of further problems with
flooding in the area.
"This scheme will dramatically improve
protection for residential and business
properties and we will be pushing ahead with
these plans as soon as possible."
Monday, 21 October, 2002, 11:23 GMT 12:23 UK
Fears rise over flood action
'delay'
In the past severe flooding has affected
residential and commercial properties around
the Mwrog Street and Borthyn areas of the
town.
Fears of another deluge have heightened
following torrential rain throughout north
Wales over the weekend.
BBC Wales' weatherman Derek Brockway
said there is worse to come.
"There will be more rain this week, although
it will be warmer.
Ruthin town centre has been badly flooded in the past
A north Wales politician has warned of "an
explosion of anger" in a Denbighshire town
prone to flooding.
Ruthin residents had been promised a £1m
defence scheme to prevent further damage to
their homes after the area flooded four times
in four years.
"The weather has turned much more
unsettled now," he said.
However, fears have
been raised the project
could be delayed and
Clwyd West AM Alun
Pugh said people are
becoming annoyed.
He also confirmed that the authority would
continue with the flood defence scheme.
The money for
this project is sitting
in the assembly's
bank account
awaiting the
signatures on the
legal documentation
The local authority
needs to put up part of
the drainage system on
Clwyd West AM, Alun
local landowners
Pugh
property but talks have
apparently taken longer than anticipated.
Mr Pugh said negotiations have not yet
reached a point where a construction contract
can be put to tender.
"The money for this project is sitting in the
assembly's bank account awaiting the
signatures on the legal documentation," he
said.
Residents worried
"The project is desperately needed to remove
the very real fear of flooding from the town.
"I have met constituents who are sick with
worry that their homes will be hit again this
winter. "If work doesn't start before
Christmas there will be an explosion of anger
in the town."
On Monday, a spokesman for Denbighshire
council said they had not received any calls
from people concerned about the possibility
of flooding.
"Denbighshire County Council is committed
to starting the work on the flood alleviation
scheme at the earliest opportunity and is
currently finalising some issues before the
scheme can move forward," he said.
Favourable response
The problem will be tackled by diverting
water away from houses in Ruthin which
were last flooded in October 2001.
Since 1998 there have been a number of
separate flooding incidents resulting from
problems with a culvert which runs from
Mwrog Street to the River Clwyd.
Under the new project a brook which runs
under the street and along farmland to
Denbigh Road will be re-directed to join the
River Clwyd.
The water will then be carried away from the
town.
Councillors carried out a consultation last
year over the plans and more than 90% of
the public were in favour of the initiative.
Friday, 24 January, 2003, 06:35 GMT
New defences for flood-hit
town
is desperately needed to remove the very
real fear of flooding from the town."
Severe flooding
In the past severe flooding has affected
residential and commercial properties around
the Mwrog Street and Borthyn areas of the
town.
Since 1998, there have been a number of
separate flooding incidents resulting from
problems with a culvert, which runs from
Mwrog Street to the River Clwyd.
Ruthin town centre has been badly flooded in the past
Long-awaited flood alleviation work in a north
Wales town is due to move a step closer.
Denbighshire Council is expected to announce
on Friday it has appointed a contractor to
carry out the work in Ruthin and that it has
set a date to start.
The £1m defence scheme has hit delays,
angering local residents and politicians.
Work was held up after a dispute with
landowners.
Ruthin residents had
been promised
defences to prevent
further damage to
their homes after the
area flooded four
times in four years.
But the Environment
Agency has said that
many residents living
in the worst-hit area
The culvert is prone to
of the town have not
flooding
signed up to a 24hour flood warning telephone messaging
service.
The Agency has said it is surprised that just
165 properties out of 400 in the worst-hit part
of town have signed up for the scheme.
It is appealing for the remaining residents to
register for the scheme.
Speaking about the delays, before Christmas,
Clwyd West AM Alun Pugh said: "The project
Under the new project a brook which runs
under the street and along farmland to
Denbigh Road will be re-directed to join the
River Clwyd.
The water will then be carried away from the
town.
Councillors carried out a consultation last
year over the plans and more than 90% of
the public were in favour of the initiative.
Saturday, 18 October, 2003
Town protected against
floods
A flood defence scheme which has cost
twice as much as planned comes into
operation on Saturday.
Ruthin in Denbighshire, north Wales, was one
of the worst-affected towns in Wales during
the disastrous autumn floods of 2000.
But the area's local authority is now confident
it can prevent such devastating problems
happening again - thanks to almost £3mworth of flood prevention work.
Among the most severely-hit parts were
Mwrog Street and the Borthyn area of the
town.
Since 1998, there have several incidents of
flooding resulting from problems with a
culvert, which runs from Mwrog Street to the
River Clwyd.
Residents had to be evacuated three years
ago when a culvert beneath the ground was
unable to cope with continuous flood water.
Denbighshire County Council has since
developed a scheme to divert excess water
from the River Clwyd away from the town
centre.
A brook which runs under the street and
along farmland to Denbigh Road will be redirected to join the River Clwyd.
Contractual problems with the owners of the
farmland which will now carry diverted river
water have meant the cost of the scheme has
doubled this year from £1.6m to just under
£3m.
The council pressed ahead with the work,
having made a pledge to people living in the
town. Many families had seen their homes
flooded four times in four years
The authority is confident future floods can be
averted but many locals will only be
convinced once the new system has been
tested by the weather.
North Wales has been flooded numerous times
Floods have taken property and treasured
possessions
Dec 12 2003
Flooding relief at last for
residents
CHRISTMAS will be all the sweeter this year
after the completion of a much-needed flood
relief scheme.
It took years to come to fruition but it has
been a great relief to residents of Mwrog
Street and the Borthyn areas of Ruthin to
hear they will never again have to fear the
threat of flooding every time it rains hard.
Residents and businesses in Ruthin have
suffered major flooding on numerous
occasions over the years due to a blocked
culvert but now the flood relief works will
direct any excess water safely away from the
area along a two kilometre diversion along a
route to the west and north of the town.
The new watercourse joins the River Clwyd
via an existing drainage channel, beginning in
fields below Llanfwrog Church and heading off
through agricultural land, crossing the A525
near the Livestock Market roundabout before
joining the river.
Landscaping and fencing work still needs to
be completed and Denbighshire workers will
be removing the old sandbags from outside
properties in the area during the runup to
Christmas.
Residents who formed the campaign group,
the Flood Action Committee, say the day is a
land-mark in history for the town after
decades of misery.
"After such a long time, residents can now
feel safe in their own homes," said chairman
Charles Davies.
Mr Davies gave thanks to all the committee
members past and present for their
commitment and energy over the last three
years since the group was formed.
Assembly Member Alun Pugh, was also
praised for his work in securing funding for
the scheme which has cost in excess of £3
million.
"It is now up to the town and county councils
to clean up Ruthin and maximise its full
potential for residents and businesses alike,"
he said.
Cabinet lead member for sustainable
development and the environment, Coun
Mike German echoed Mr Davies in that the
completion of the works would give peace of
mind to the residents who have been
affected by major flooding in previous years.
"Denbighshire has worked closely with its
partners and the local community to
complete the works as soon as possible and
to minimise any disruption.
"A controlled quantity of water will continue
to flow through the Mwrog Street culvert for
environmental purposes and to clean the
existing system but once the cleansing flow is
exceeded, any further water is automatically
diverted into the relief channel."