Following the reports and initial surveys of landslip in the area below Duffryn Rhondda, NPTC engaged external consultants to design a refurbishment scheme for the failed or failing sections of gabion baskets at the toe of the embankment slope which supports the Riverside Tip and to examine the 4 culverts under the tip. These Gabion baskets were put in place circa 1980 to protect the tip from the River Afan.
The main works were due to start in the summer of 2022 subject to the design being finalised/agreed & funding however there were delays in finances but these works actually started in February 24. Our club representatives have been invited to a number of site meetings and the contractors “WALTERS” have taken on board our concerns and requests with regards to ongoing disruption and finished product.
The surveys have identified 4 main areas of work, so it will be necessary to create 2 access tracks at present, diagonally across the embankment slopes which are heavily wooded. The access tracks are constructed as part of the main works to allow access to in river work and were started in the 3rd week of January. The tree felling corridor is 5m wide and has been timed so as to avoid the start of the bird nesting season.
NPTC external consultants have been liaising with Natural Resources Wales about the works in the summer which will be in the river. They will also be dealing with the application for the Flood Risk Activity Permits from NRW. NPT Biodiversity Teams have also been involved and helped in the development of the scheme & have been liaising with the local interest groups.
Unfortunately the bank stabilisation needs to be completed. There is no doubt that this work will impact on the fishing in the river but measures have been put in place to reduce the impact on our fishing whilst maintaining fish passage throughout.
The cycle track will also be impacted with heavy machinery but will remain open with manned crossing areas to ensure safety.
We are advised that the scheme is expected to take two years to complete but may encroach into a third year.
Walters the main contractor have very kindly supplied us with drone footage of the areas being refurbished. Please check out the links to the drone footage below.
We were invited to visit the site to see the progress made in mid September. We were advised that they had now finished in water work for this year, we had previously been under the impression that funding had been secured for the completion of the project next year, however this may now not be the case. The contractors have now been asked to remove all equipment etc. Walters have prepared areas planned for repair/refurbishment next year but we will now have to wait to find out if they are to complete the initial plan. The work completed to date looks impressive and substantial. During the visit we could see a culvert discharge wall near completion. As requested the contractors had placed large boulders in the main river flow at staggered positions as resting areas for fish and inverts. You will notice in the later pictures, that the banks are covered with a natural netting which will be used for securing and supporting seed and will reduce run off.
