{"id":41429,"date":"2025-11-17T22:47:58","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T22:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/record-monmouthshire-floods-spark-renewed-call-for-defences\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T22:47:58","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T22:47:58","slug":"record-monmouthshire-floods-spark-renewed-call-for-defences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/record-monmouthshire-floods-spark-renewed-call-for-defences\/","title":{"rendered":"Record Monmouthshire floods spark renewed call for defences"},"content":{"rendered":"


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A month’s worth of rain hit Monmouth and surrounding areas in a single day<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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A major clean-up operation is under way after a south Wales town was devastated by flooding during storm Claudia, with a fundraiser for affected residents surpassing \u00a372,500.<\/p>\n

Record river levels triggered severe flood warnings last weekend, as the River Monnow rose higher than during Storm Dennis in 2020 and Storm Bert in 2024.<\/p>\n

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) issued alerts warning of a “significant risk to life” and parts of Monmouth and nearby villages were left underwater. It said it was looking at options to manage flood risk.<\/p>\n

Former Monmouth MP David Davis said communities had “lost out” on flood defences despite repeated pleas for protection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Mr Davies said people who live by the River Monnow cannot get insurance and others “are now going to find it very difficult to get insurance”.<\/p>\n

“There are places around here like Skenfrith, that need a flood defence scheme,” he said.<\/p>\n

“The NRW agreed with that but for one reason or another it, and I don’t want to do politics, but it just hasn’t happened and the area has lost out.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Mr Davies said Skenfrith has “lost out” to a lack of flood defences<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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A spokesperson for NRW said: “We recognise that Skenfrith has experienced flooding on several occasions in recent years. <\/p>\n

“We continue to work closely with the local community and elected members to explore what options are available to help manage flood risk.<\/p>\n

“We have followed government processes and assessed possible options, and this has shown that the most viable and cost-beneficial approach is property-level protection. <\/p>\n

“We have been working with the community to identify the best options for each property and we are committed to taking this project forward.<\/p>\n

“We have also been in discussions with partner organisations about the potential for nature-based catchment solutions, and these conversations are ongoing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Some parts of Monmouth are still flooded as people continue to clean up<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Two rivers burst their banks flooding streets and fields in Monmouth<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Monmouthshire county councillor Ian Chandler, whose patch includes Skenfrith, told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast the village has been “pretty devastated”.<\/p>\n

“Every house was flooded. As you go there, there’s the smell of diesel fumes where oil tanks have been tipped over by the floods,” he said.<\/p>\n

“There’s mud everywhere, people are having to put their furniture out onto the street, because it’s ruined, to be collected. <\/p>\n

“They’re going through the process of cleaning up which they’ve had to do before, this is the fourth major flood in Skenfrith in six years. It’s a pretty depressing place.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Businesses in Monmouth were significantly hit by the flooding<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Mayor of Monmouth Jackie Atkin, who set up the fundraiser, said the donations has been “incredible”, adding their immediate priority is to clean up.<\/p>\n

“The money came thick and fast… it’s just incredible, so we’ll be working out how and where to distribute those funds effectively to businesses, residents and communities affected.<\/p>\n

“Monmouth is not shut for business, we’re definitely open.”<\/p>\n

Rachel Hollingsbee, whose nail bar Bee You, Bee Beautiful in Monmouth has been flooded, said: “It’s just a show of mud and silt. <\/p>\n

“Every business has been covered with a thick, grimy layer which is where most of the damage has come from. It’s going to sit there if we don’t action it quickly.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

River level hits record height<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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A rain gauge in the Black Mountains on the northern edge of Monmouthshire recorded accumulations of 119.6mm between Thursday night and Saturday morning, BBC Wales environment correspondent Steffan Messenger said.<\/p>\n

It’s more rain than would be expected for the whole month.<\/p>\n

The impact can be clearly seen in river level data – with flows along the Monnow reaching their highest on record.<\/p>\n

At Monnow Gate, Monmouth’s famous medieval fortified river bridge – the water level had reached 6.658 metres by 2.45am on Saturday, beating the previous record set in the wake of Storm Dennis in 2020.<\/p>\n

Then local flood defences, built decades ago, had been enough to protect the town centre itself, though flooding from the river Wye affected the Mayhill area.<\/p>\n

There are now calls to look again at the measures in place to guard against flooding.<\/p>\n

The local authority had in fact been consulting on an updated Local Flood Risk Management strategy over the summer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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