Vale MP Alun Cairns has insisted that work on the Boverton Culvert must be completed this month and expressed disappointment that work has been delayed so far, claiming that this has ‘put homes at risk’. He has vowed to ask serious questions of the Vale Council if the work is not completed.
Flooding at Boverton has been a perennial issue in the area, causing significant damage to property following deluges of wet weather. It has become a contentious issue once more in recent weeks, with Cllr Gwyn John criticising the Vale MP for misleading local people by raising concerns over flooding at Ham Manor and for ‘not understanding’ the issue of flooding at Boverton.
In a reply to Jo Cody, in last week’s Gem, Cllr John said, “Alun Cairns is an MP responsible for Westminster issues, not those of local Government which come under the Vale Council who in turn are answerable to the Welsh Government.”
Mr Cairns met with Cllr Tony Bennett and Llantwit Residents last week to discuss the issue of flooding. He spoke of his disappointment that work has not yet been completed on the Boverton Culvert, despite the availability of Natural Resources Wales funding for the project for over a year.
He said, “Funding has been available to the Council to complete work on the Boverton Culvert to improve flood defences for over a year, it is deeply regrettable that the project has taken so long to get off the ground. We were promised in September that it would take place in November, and were subsequently promised that it would take place in January. It is now February. If work is not completed this month, I will be raising serious questions with the Vale Council.
“Every week that the project goes uncompleted increases the risk to homeowners in the immediate area. This is a serious project with potential to greatly improve the flood security of local people, it must be carried out without delay.”
Responding to comments from Cllr Gwyn John in last week’s Gem, Mr Cairns said, “The tone of Cllr John’s interventions in this debate, particularly when he is responding to a member of the public (Jo Cody, whose letter was described as a ‘disgraceful tirade’) is not appropriate for a senior local politician.
“Contrary to Cllr John’s comments, I do feel I have a responsibility to speak out when my constituents raise concerns about matters which come under the local authority’s remit. I’m sure Cllr John wants this project to be completed as soon as I do, and I hope he uses his considerable capacity for invective to ensure that this is the case.”
Cllr Bennett said, “Local people are rightly frustrated by delays to this project. Any further delay puts homes at risk.”