AN assembly member has called for a “rapid review” into flood risk management in a village that has flooded three times in eight years.

Darren Millar, AM for Clwyd West, said the flooding of Llanfair TH is having a “lasting legacy” on residents and business owners. Heavy rainfall during Storm Ciara caused the River Elwy to burst its banks, resulting in waist-high water in the village square which swept away cars, displaced several residents and shut business properties.

Last year Natural Resources Wales (NRW) completed phase one of its flood management scheme after severe flooding in 2012. It said a bigger culvert and changes to the river flow upstream would provide a “one in 75-year” guarantee of protection.

NRW said the culvert “became overwhelmed by the volume of water and debris that was brought down by the river”.

Mr Millar said that before phase two of the flood scheme gets underway in the spring, concerns over whether it is “fit for purpose” must be answered.

“I know that phase two of the improvement project is supposed to be underway in the spring and I would suggest that there now needs to be a rapid review of that particular project to make sure that it is going to be fit for purpose,” said Mr Millar.

“As I understand it, there was a problem with the maintenance of the clearing of the Nant Barrog, which overflowed and flooded homes in Llanfair TH. I think people will be looking as to why that maintenance regime has been insufficient to protect them this time around.”

Kim Cooper, owner of the Siop y Llan and Post Office, said the community had not been given due warning over the risk of flooding during Storm Ciara.

“After 2012, we were assured by Conwy County Borough Council that this would never happen again because of all the work in the village,” she said.

“If we’d have known, we could have put boards out which could have diverted the water away.”

Mr Millar, Welsh Conservatives, called on the Welsh Government to provide emergency funding to the local authority to help residents in Llanfair TH, as well as those in affected areas in Llangernyw, Llansannan and Colwyn Bay.

Speaking in the Senedd on Monday, February 11, he said: “In England, the UK Government has made available funding for local authorities which have been affected. Can I ask that you trigger the Emergency Financial Assistance Scheme, particularly for Conwy, given that it has experienced over the weekend the worst flooding since the Towyn floods thirty years ago?”