Flooding bill runs into millions

The bill will include repairs to damaged roads

Local authorities are counting the cost of flooding which devestated parts of north and mid Wales with the total bill expected to run into millions of pounds.

The final cost will not be known for some time as clean up operations continue, but early estimates make bleak reading for councils.

Denbighshire expects to face a final bill of £1.5m, Flintshire Council could have to pay around £1m, while Powys expects to pay around £500,000.

Once flooding subsides, the celaring up begins

The cost includes repairing damage to roads and bridges, clearing up landslips and paying workers around the clock to put out sandbags.

Wrexham Council - which has had to deal with serious flooding problems at Bangor-on-Dee - is not yet able to give a figure but it too is expecting a large bill.

Wrexham has said it will apply to the National Assembly for Wales for grant aid once flooding in the area has cleared and the authority is able to assess the total cost of the operation.

Representations to the Assembly have already been made calling for the flooding situation in affected areas of Wrexham county borough - including Bangor-on-Dee and Rossett - to be treated as an emergency.

Lost crops

The authority said it is currently expected to pay the first £250,000 of any emergency funding and would then only receive an 85% grant for spending above that amount.

Meanwhile, farming unions are to ask for government aid after the floods destroyed thousands of pounds worth of crops.

"The effect of the availability of cereals for next year is a major problem as is the availability of straw for this year," said National Farmers' Union president Hugh Richards.