Prince Charles visits flood victims in South Wales
More downpours and flooding are expected this weekend, bringing further misery to flood-hit areas of England and Wales.
Friday 21 February 2020 23:14, UK
Prince Charles has visited residents and businesses affected by the recent flooding caused by Storm Dennis.
He met people in the town of Pontypridd, one of the areas in South Wales badly hit by this month's severe weather, and spent time shaking hands and chatting with residents.
The prince later thanked emergency services personnel at the town's municipal building.
It is estimated that 1,100 properties have been affected by flooding in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area.
The heir to the throne first visited a boutique shop owned by Emma Jamal, who showed him a line on the wall indicating how high the water level had been.
Mrs Jamal, 40, said she arrived at the shop - which she has owned for 12 years - at 6am on Sunday to find it "completely devastated".
"Literally every piece of furniture, every piece of stock, has gone in the skip," she said.
"Hundreds of thousands of pounds. It is gone. It has taken us years and years to build up the stock."
The shop owner said she now "can't sleep at night".
Prince Charles asked aides to take Mrs Jamal's details to see if she could be assisted.
The prince also heard how 50 residents from Trivallis housing association have needed temporary accommodation and will not be able to return to their homes for an estimated eight months.
Richard Oliver, 43, whose home was flooded in the early hours of Sunday, said: "He asked us how we were coping, if we had a cooker and if the toilet was working.
"We've lost the carpet but it's the area around our house that has been really damaged. It is a bit of a war-zone up there at the moment."
Andrew Morgan, the leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, said everyone was "pleased" to see the Prince of Wales.
"I think it is a bit of positivity in the town in what has been the worst week in decades."
Large parts of Wales - along with the Midlands - are continuing to battle extensive flooding.
Massive clear-up operations are under way in areas where water levels have fallen.
The Environment Agency (EA) has warned heavy rain over the weekend could cause more flooding misery, with the downpours set to continue into next week.
It said further heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday could cause more flooding in parts of the North and the Midlands.
A spokesperson said "ongoing river flooding remains probable for the River Severn on Monday and Tuesday".
This weekend will be the third in a row marred by stormy weather and high river levels.
The Prince of Wales' visit comes as the prime minister came under fire for not visiting flood-hit areas.
On Thursday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told Boris Johnson: "Go and talk to them".
Mr Corbyn was speaking during a visit to South Wales.
"Sadly, I'm not surprised but I do think that it's the duty of the prime minister to be there in places where there are difficulties, whether there is an election or not," he said.
"And I've come today, not to interfere with any recovery work, but just to listen to people and hear their experiences, and it's heart-breaking."
Environment Secretary George Eustice said the Labour leader's comments were an attempt to "politicise the floods".
On Sky News' Kay Burley@Breakfast show, business minister Nadhim Zahawi said: "What's more important - action or just simply having a media photo opp?
"What's better? It's much better for the prime minister to keep his ministers focused on delivery, rather than a media photo opp."
Caroline Douglass, the EA's director of incident management, said: "Flooding has a long lasting and devastating impact on people's lives, and our thoughts remain with all those who have been flooded and continue to feel the impacts of the persistent wet weather."
There are currently two severe flood warnings in place across England, meaning an immediate risk to life.
There are a further 67 flood warnings and 149 flood alerts.
In Wales, there is one flood warning and four flood alerts.
Ms Douglass said: "With the effects of climate change, we need to prepare for more frequent periods of extreme weather like this.
"People need to be aware of their flood risk, sign up to flood warnings, make a flood plan and not to drive or walk through floodwater."