Flood hit street to get repairs

Many houses have to regularly guard against floods

A street hit by flooding is to get £530,000 of drainage repairs to protect homes after a report said the situation could get worse without it.

Houses and businesses in Station Road, Abergavenny, have been flooded at least four times since 1986, with the latest happening in January.

The assembly government has promised a grant of more than £450,000.

Monmouthshire Council will pay for the rest of the work which is due to start in September.

In January, a number of homes in the street were badly damaged by floods.

It was the latest in a number of flooding incidents since 1984 and people living in the affected homes hope the repair work will bring an end to their "fear of bad weather."

It's very trying indeed. It's hard on the nerves." Flood victim Joyce Bufton

Monmouthshire Council applied to the assembly government for the grant after it identified a history of flooding in the street with as many as 14 residential and four commercial properties being affected in the past.

Inquiries showed the existing drainage system needed improving or the frequency of flooding would increase to around once every two years.

Joyce Bufton's home is one of the worst affected in the area.

She's been moved from her home during bad weather three times in as many years and she hopes this will soon end.

She said: "I've had to pay a lot of money on flood barriers. It's really hard because when it flooded I couldn't save anything."

"I've had a stroke in the meantime which makes it hard because I can't move about. It's very trying indeed. It's hard on the nerves."

Grahame Edwards who works in the Station Garage in the street said the garage and the surrounding businesses had been affected in the past.

He said: "The flooding was horrendous. I parked the wheel of a 4X4 over the drain and the water nearly lifted the wheel up in to the air."

Following the announcement of the grant award, Environment Minister Jane Davidson said: "This is excellent news for local residents and businesses who have suffered the effects of flooding for many years."