Estate builder 'abandons' flood estate, claims Plaid Cymru

Aerial shot of Glasdir flooding in Ruthin in November 2012

A house builder has been accused of abandoning one of its estates following devastating floods five years ago in Denbighshire.

Plaid Cymru North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd said Taylor Wimpey had left building plots unfinished and had not carried out some maintenance work at Glasdir in Ruthin.

More than 120 homes on the new estate were hit by flooding in November 2012.

Taylor Wimpey has been asked to comment.

Mr Gruffydd said three partially built homes remained on the estate that had not been touched since the floods.

He claimed another six plots with foundation footings in place have also been abandoned, and a further 20 building plots have not been started.

He also accused the developer of not carrying out essential maintenance work.

"The residents deserve an explanation as to why maintenance work is not being carried out and why parts of the estate seem to have been abandoned," said Mr Gruffydd.

"They're naturally concerned that this could have a negative effect on the estate and the value of their homes."

Blocked culverts on the estate were blamed for the floods in 2012, when the River Clwyd overwhelmed defences that were supposed to protect the estate.

Hundreds of homes in nearby St Asaph were also flooded, killing 91-year-old Margaret Hughes.

Ruthin county councillor Emrys Wynne added: "Parts of the estate look like they've been completely abandoned. We need assurances that the estate will be completed as promised."

The Plaid Cymru councillor said he believed the housing developer had a duty to maintain the estate until it was officially adopted by the local authority.

Local Glasdir resident Elena Vardoulaki said: "This is a nice estate to live on and the new school nearby will mean more families will look to live here.

"It's a shame that some houses have just been left abandoned, and that plots are left empty. It looks bad."

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