Historic Kidwelly bridge and dam damaged as Carmarthenshire begins flood recovery

Damage to Kidwelly’s tinworks bridge and dam

The Kidwelly old tinplate works bridge and dam, a Scheduled Monument on the Afon Gwendraeth Fach, suffered visible structural loss during the severe flooding.

Carmarthenshire Council says survey work has not yet started due to high water levels, but from what can be observed at a safe distance there appears to be substantial loss to the upper section of the dam structure. Elevated water levels have been recorded across the scheduled area.

The authority says it will work with Cadw and Natural Resources Wales to agree next steps and secure permissions for clearance and stabilising works. The land around the dam and Gwenllian Pool has been closed for public safety, with residents advised to stay away.

The bridge and dam form part of the Kidwelly Tinplate Industrial Museum, which remains closed while restoration plans are developed.

Emergency works at Glangwili factory bridge

Carmarthenshire Council says emergency clearance and structural assessments are due to begin on Factory Bridge in Bronwydd from Monday 10 November.

Flood debris has built up around the bridge, forcing its closure. The council says specialist contractors and operational crews will remove the material and carry out safety checks, with work expected to last five days.

Overhead power and fibre optic cables will be temporarily adjusted to allow machinery access. The council has thanked residents for their patience while the work is carried out.

Countywide response and support

Carmarthenshire Council says highways crews handled more than 400 incident reports and tackled 175 separate flooding events during the peak of the flooding. Fourteen crews worked overnight with additional pumps deployed to manage rising water levels.

Support services were also stretched. The council says Delta Wellbeing, its arms‑length care provider, received 128 out‑of‑hours calls, while the contact centre answered 630 calls in a single day. Housing and social care teams arranged temporary accommodation and welfare checks, including support for more than 40 residents evacuated from St Davids Avenue in Whitland, with 20 given alternative housing.

In total, Carmarthenshire Council says 189 households and 32 businesses have reported being affected. A hardship emergency fund has been set up, offering £500 payments to households that have been internally flooded, and an additional £1,000 for those without insurance. Assistance is also available for removing damaged goods and furniture, though residents are urged to contact insurers first.

Council Leader Cllr Darren Price said:

“There is no doubt that the impact of this flooding has been significant for many, and I’m grateful to local communities throughout Carmarthenshire for coming together and showing such resilience. The Council continues to support those in need, with practical support and financial assistance available.”

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Cricket club ‘bowled over’ by developer donation

Persimmon Homes West Wales made the donation to Clwb Criced Bronwydd as part of its Community Champions scheme, which sees £48,000 spent on good causes and much-valued organisations across Wales each year.

The money will be used to help level new ground the club is on the verge of securing to accommodate its growing membership. Established in 1978, the club has three senior, four junior, one women’s, and one girls’ teams, with around 200 members playing across them. Its 1st XI play in Division 1 of the South Wales Cricket Association and the 2nd XI are in Division 4. 

The club also has a strong connection with several local primary schools and its coaches go into these schools to give the pupils, what is for most, their first ever ‘taste’ of cricket.

Recent local recipients of Persimmon’s Community Champions funding include Wales Air Ambulance, Carmarthen & Cross Hands Autistic Mams Association, Carmarthen Family Centres, Queen Elizabeth High School’s Canolfan Elfed, and Scarlets Women’s Rugby.

Persimmon Homes West Wales currently has two, three, and four-bed homes for sale at Parc y Fron in Carmarthen, available from £190,000. 250 homes will be built as part of the scheme in the west of the town with over £2.3m going towards local infrastructure as a result.

Commenting, Persimmon Homes West Wales Sales Director Sharon Bouhali said: “Persimmon have a proud record of supporting grassroots sports clubs in the region and we are delighted to continue that tradition with Clwb Criced Bronwydd.

“We are bringing hundreds of new homes to west Carmarthen, only down the road from the club, providing homes for local families, some of which will go onto play for Bronwydd, I’m sure.

“We wish the club all the best for the rest of the season and hope these funds help them along the way.”

Karl von Weber, Club Secretary of Clwb Briced Bronwydd Cricket Club, added: “We’re bowled over by Persimmon’s decision to choose us as a Community Champion, and this donation will be an immense help for us as a small, community-minded club.

“The club is really proud of what we have accomplished and our ambition to cater to a growing number of people, and we are excited to be expanding our capacity, which this donation will help us do.”

#Bronwydd #Carmarthenshire #ClwbCricedBronwydd #cricket #Persimmon