Rossett residents call for greater defences following heavy flooding

Some residents could only helplessly watch on as water seeped into their homes following two days of heavy rain.

While multiple areas in north east Wales were hit by heavy flooding on Wednesday, Rossett residents believe their area to be particularly vulnerable after a natural water course was allowing water to flow to Pulford Brook was blocked to make way for a major housing development some years ago.

Flooding on Darland Lane in Rossett on Wednesday. (Photo credit - Natasha Pickering)

Local concerns have been raised about housing developments being built on local land liable to flood.

Plans for more than 130 homes in Rossett were unanimously rejected by Wrexham councillors in January 2019. Among the council's concerns was the regular flooding from the nearby River Alyn.

But last year, they were notified in a letter signed by Welsh minister for housing, Julie James, that their decision had been overturned.

Cllr Hugh Jones, Rossett's county councillor, said: "Year on year the flooding gets worse here and yet we're facing a constant battle with the Welsh Government who keep building on flood plains in the area.

"Residents are not wrong about what they say about the natural drainage system that the village lost as part of the Charles Church development and I am in the final stages of discussions with council officers for flood repellent scheme in Rossett.

"It would see a new drainage system put in place to replace the old one. These discussions have been going on for years but at last it appears that we are going to get the defences we need."

Rossett resident Michelle Clewley could only watch on in horror as flood water made its way into her house on Burton Hall Road.

She said: "I've never seen anything like it here in terms of the sheer volume of water. I panicked as it was coming in so fast.

"My daughter and I were trying to move things out of the way and stop water in the front room whilst my son was in the back trying to stop the water gushing through.

"But we felt really helpless as there was nothing we could do to stop it coming in.

"The electrics blew so then we were in the dark it was horrible."

Luckily, the damage caused was not as bad as anticipated - with a carpet washing machine and a tumble drier the only items of note to have been badly damaged.

Michelle said: "We are working our way around the house checking as the water came through both ends of the house. And it’s not water from the Alyn it’s water coming down through the fields so you can imagine what it has brought with it.

"But we feel very lucky that the damage isn't as bad as it could have been. And also feel lucky to have a such a great local community - complete strangers were reaching out to help us with offers to help move furniture and lend pumps, things like that."

Lindsey Brough, who lives on Greenfields in nearby Burton, is also counting the cost of flooding which affected her property last night.

The young mother-of-two said: "My carpet is damp and the house smells - it’s all water off a field that a farmer sprays.

"I’ve already had my floorboards in my living room ripped up once this year. But it could have been a lot worse - me and my kids are safe and that's the main thing."

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Our policy framework clearly states that houses should not be built on flood plains. Flood risk was considered in the Rossett case but the site was outside specific flood zones which require detailed consideration of flood risk.  

"Recent flooding incidents however offer a stark reminder of how vulnerable many communities are to flooding, and how important the planning system is in managing flood risk whilst ensuring that we continue to build the number of homes we need.

 “The lessons learned from the recent storms and flooding across Wales will be reflected in the development of our new planning policy for Wales.”

Properties in Rossett suffered flooding on Wednesday evening. (Photo credit - Lindsey Brough)