Article
Council approves strategic plan to reduce flooding risk to communities and businesses
15 July 2025
Neath Port Talbot Council has approved a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and Plan (LFRMSP) after successful consultation with key stakeholders and residents.
Approved on July 9th, 2025 it sets out how the council will deal with flood risk from surface water, ordinary watercourses and groundwater in Neath Port Talbot over the next six to seven years.
The responsibility for the council to develop this “local strategy” is set out in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. As Lead Local Flood Authority the council must develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management.
This LFRMSP clarifies roles and responsibilities, describes how the council decided its priorities, explains what the council is doing to mitigate flood risks across Neath Port Talbot, and how the council can help people and businesses reduce the risk of flooding.
Cllr Scott Jones, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene, whose portfolio covers flood defence oversight, said: “Flooding remains a serious threat to communities across Wales and the UK and managing this risk through careful planning is key to minimising the risk to our communities here in Neath Port Talbot.
“Improvements in preparation, response, and recovery performance to flood risk incidents have been realised by; adopting the latest technology; investing in personnel; and streamlining processes and procedures, ensuring risks and consequences of flooding are managed effectively.
“This new combined strategy and plan builds on these previous successes and identifies how the council will manage flood risk over the next six to seven years.
“Our long-term objective is to leave a legacy for future generations and for Neath Port Talbot to remain an attractive place to live, work and visit.”
The impacts of Climate Change are becoming ever more noticeable, particularly in the last four years which have seen significant flood events across the Neath Port Talbot.
Records show 300 properties in the county borough have suffered from internal flooding since 2020 compared to 130 flooded properties between
2013-2020. Rainfall events are becoming more unpredictable, intense, and frequent, causing significant disruption and heartache to many local communities.
Cllr Jones added: “While it is not possible to prevent all flooding, it is possible to consider the risks and take a pro-active approach to manage these risks, likelihoods, and consequences.”
