Mold waterworks disruption ‘worse than the Blitz’

But those blamed for “causing mayhem” on Mold’s high street will complete two weeks ahead of schedule.

Other works in the town will continue until Welsh Water reaches the end of its programme to install new water mains throughout the centre of Mold.

More than 3.6 kilometres of new water mains are being installed to reduce iron levels in Mold’s drinking water as part of a 40-week programme of works.

Traders in the town have hit out at the disruption which they say has had a detrimental impact on business.

And councillors have labelled the scheme disastrous.

Cllr Chris Bithell said: “This has caused more damage than the Blitz. It has been a disaster.”

Councillors slated Welsh Water’s decision to begin work on Milford Street while High Street works carry on.

Cllr Robin Guest said: “It’s a major misjudgement by someone to have started work on Milford Street at this point while other routes to the town centre are also closed.

“There was no suitable traffic management in place when works on Milford Street began and it caused mayhem.”

Town centre manager Dave Hill told councillors at Wednesday’s town council meeting that traders in the town were “praying for the works to be finished as soon as possible”.

But he also confirmed: “Works on Lower High Street will be completed by the end of next week, two weeks ahead of schedule.

“Works on Chester Street will complete the following week before work then moves to King Street.”

The town’s cast iron water mains are being upgraded after iron levels breached those set by the World Health Organisation.

Welsh Water have confirmed there is no health risk but said the work, which began in October, was necessary to prevent discolouration of the water.

External relations manager at Welsh Water, Jill Roberts said: “We are currently investing £900,000 on an essential scheme in Mold which will ensure customers continue to receive a first class drinking water supply.

“Work on the scheme has now progressed to Milford Street. We had originally planned to close the street to carry out the work but to help minimise disruption we decided, in liaison with the local highways authority, to keep the road open.

“We had hoped traffic could be managed under a give and take system. However, it soon became apparent that temporary traffic lights would be required.

“Work on Milford Street is set to be completed within the next two weeks.

“We would like to apologise to customers and motorists for any inconvenience caused.

“If customers or business have any queries, a representative from Welsh Water is available every Wednesday between 10am and noon at the Town and Country Estate Agents, New Street, Mold.”

How county fared during the Blitz 

BOMBS did drop on Flintshire during the ‘Blitz’ by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.

On August 14, 1940, one person was killed and 25 injured when RAF Sealand was bombed.

Following a heavy raid on Liverpool on January 9, 1941, the aftermath was partly played out over Flintshire with bombing crews dropping their remaining bombs on the county.

In a 2010 BBC interview, Liverpool refugee Hazel Formby told how she sought escape from the constant bombing raids on the city by moving to Flintshire.

She recalled bombs being dropped on Halkyn Mountain and the school, chapel, institute and several houses were damaged in Rhes-y-Cae.

She also remembered bombs falling in Babell, Lixwm and Ysceifiog with three of those landing in a field at Groesffordd Farm damaging buildings.

Several German aircraft were shot down over Flintshire and Denbighshire during the Liverpool Blitz of May 1941.

The last bombs are understood to have fallen on North East Wales in early 1942.

In his book, ‘The Air War’ from: Clwyd at War 1939-45, A G Veysey states that 29 people were killed and 95 injured in Flintshire and Denbighshire.

Death tolls in South Wales were much higher as cities such as Cardiff were exposed to repeated bombing raids.