RESIDENTS say new river defences that were supposed to prevent flooding had directed water into their homes during Storm Ciara.

53 residents in lower St Asaph had to be evacuated from their homes on Sunday, February 9 after the River Elwy hit its peak level of five metres.

While the central part of the city has been protected by the £6million flood defences completed by Natural Resources Wales in 2018, residents on the outskirts, near the A525 towards Rhuddlan and Lower Denbigh Road, say they were left vulnerable as the river burst its banks.

Tom Williams, whose family runs Spring Gardens caravan park, was critical of the defences which he said comes to an end before the site.

“The bank there is about two feet lower which means the flood water just exits at that point – into our caravan park,” he said.

“They should have continued the flood wall or built the bank up.”

Denbighshire County Council put 18 caravan park residents into temporary accommodation, including 19-year-old Jessica Roberts, a mum-of-two who is expecting a third child in a month.

She said she has been placed in Bodelwyddan but she is left without knowing where she will live in the meantime.

“I’m basically homeless now at eight months pregnant,” she said.

“We were given no warning and the next minute there was water coming down the street. The downstairs floor, sofas and skirting boards are ruined, as well as the kids’ toys.

“I don’t know when I will be able to move back in, it all depends on how much damage has been done.”

Rod Cooper, who lives near Lower Denbigh Road, provided a temporary home for six horses being kept in flooded fields on the outskirts of the city.

He said the defences have “just diverted the problem” to previously unaffected areas.

“In 2012 the flood completely missed my house and my mother’s house but because of the defences my mother’s home is now four foot in water and water reached the bottom of my home,” he said.

“I also lost two caravans which were safe in the 2012 flood. The defences just diverted the problem and so from a selfish perspective, I lost way more this time and just a car last time.

“Last time, the flood completely avoided my family’s properties. This time the ones affected last time are fine and the water was diverted to the others instead.”

Another Lower Denbigh Road resident, who did not want to be named, said blocked drains had added to flooding there.

“Thankfully we didn’t get four foot of water in the house like in 2012,” she said.

“However, this could have been avoided if the council kept the drains clear I now have to pay for carpet out of my own pocket.”

Residents also took to the St Asaph Flood Awareness Facebook group to share their grievances over the flooding.

One commenter, whose property was flooded in 2012, said they had suffered “total devastation again”.

They wrote: “We spoke to people when flood defences were being put in and absolutely nothing was done where we live except for what we have personally put in place.

“All the water was diverted to our property after they said nothing needed doing where we live and that the bank was adequate. This is the outcome, total devastation again.”

However another said: “Just imagine how bad it would of been without the defence work, I think we should be grateful.”