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CWMBWRLA: Road set to fully reopen on Tuesday as second culvert blockage cleared and flood risk drops to almost zero

The lane closure near Cwmbwrla Roundabout is set to be lifted on Tuesday after a major breakthrough at the Cwmfelin Club site, where contractors have now cleared both blockages in the underground culvert that has caused months of flooding misery in the area.

Cllr Peter Black, who represents the area and has kept residents updated throughout the lengthy works, shared the news on Facebook after receiving an update from the council.

According to the council update shared by Cllr Black, the contractors working on behalf of the Cwmfelin Social Club have now cleared the first blockage, located the second, and completed work on the final section.

The council update states that the culvert is now running at almost full capacity and the risk of further flooding on Carmarthen Road has dropped to almost zero. Welsh Water will now begin its own phase of works, expected to take up to three to four months to complete. The pumps are due to be removed and the road fully reopened on Tuesday, according to the update.

However, Gors Road — which has remained closed throughout the project — will not reopen until Welsh Water completes its resurfacing work at the very end of the process. Cllr Black confirmed this in response to questions from residents on Facebook, noting that it is Welsh Water, not the council, that is carrying out that phase of the works.

Asked by resident Donna Fairbairn whether the Gors Road surface could be completed sooner given the flooding risk has now effectively passed, Cllr Black said he would raise the question with Welsh Water. Fairbairn raised the impact on local businesses directly: “The detrimental effect on our businesses here has sadly suffered long enough. The volume of traffic cutting through private land is also a concerning hazard that needs to be addressed.”

On the question of the future of the Cwmfelin Club site itself, Cllr Black said it would be up to the club to decide, but noted that building over the culvert and sewer beneath would be difficult under current regulations.

Replying to questions from residents about costs, Cllr Black confirmed that the club is meeting the cost of the works from an insurance payout, and that the council will not be making any compulsory purchase of the land.

The Cwmfelin Club sinkhole has been one of the most significant infrastructure stories in Swansea over the past year. Swansea Bay News has followed the story from the beginning — from the initial culvert collapse blamed for the Cwmbwrla flooding and the demolition of the club building, to the discovery of a hidden Victorian tramway channel beneath the site that added further complexity to the repair work.

The full length of the cleared culvert running through the Cwmfelin site — Welsh Water will now begin its own phase of works lasting up to four months. Image: Cllr Peter BlackWater flowing freely through the excavated site as contractors complete work on the second blockage. Image: Cllr Peter BlackThe Victorian brick culvert beneath the Cwmfelin Club site, now running at almost full capacity following clearance of both blockages. Image: Cllr Peter Black

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Mystery deepens at Cwmfelin sinkhole as engineers uncover hidden tramway channel
How engineers discovered a Victorian-era tramway beneath the site.

Huge scale of sinkhole that keeps flooding Swansea revealed as diggers tear into site
The scale of the problem laid bare as excavation work began.

Demolition of Cwmfelin Social Club begins after two years on edge of giant sinkhole
The moment the club building came down.

Council blames collapsed culvert — not drains — for Cwmbwrla flooding
How the culvert collapse was identified as the root cause of the flooding.

#CllrPeterBlack #Cwmbwrla #cwmbwrlaFlooding #CwmbwrlaRoundabout #Cwmfelin #CwmfelinSocialCLub #flooding #WelshWater

Councillor warns culvert collapse could leave Cwmbwrla at risk over Christmas

At the full council meeting on 6 November 2025, Cllr Peter Black CBE (Liberal Democrats, Cwmbwrla) told members that homes had once again been inundated after water levels rose higher than in previous floods. He cautioned that until the culvert is rebuilt, the risk of repeat flooding remains.

Black said one of the pumps failed early during the storm, leaving the council “without control of the situation,” and urged urgent measures to provide extra resilience for residents.

Praise for drainage and clean‑up teams

Other councillors acknowledged the scale of the challenge and praised highways and drainage staff for their response. Andrew Stevens (Labour, Gorseinon) said teams had been called in to deal with over 40,000 drains across Swansea, working through the night to keep roads open. Cllr Peter May (Uplands Party, Uplands) described their efforts as “A1,” noting floodwaters dissipated within hours thanks to their work.

Council Leader Rob Stewart (Labour, Morriston) also thanked staff, stressing that officers had worked “diligently” to keep services running during the storm.

Their praise echoed earlier coverage by Swansea Bay News, which reported how council teams worked through the night to clear debris and reopen the Cwmbwrla roundabout following the floods. The clean‑up operation was described as “superb,” with staff ensuring the busy junction was made safe for traffic again.

Collapsed culvert at Cwmfelin Club

Council Leader Rob Stewart (Labour, Morriston) stressed that the repeated flooding at Cwmbwrla was not caused by blocked drains but by the collapsed culvert on private land near the Cwmfelin Club:

“There is a specific issue relating to a collapsed culvert on private land. It cannot handle the water it would normally take away from that area.”

Cllr Peter Black CBE (Liberal Democrats, Cwmbwrla) warned that the repair work will take months, leaving residents exposed to further risk if temporary pumps are overwhelmed:

“This is not going to be fixed before Christmas. This is not going to be fixed until January at the very earliest and it’s going to have more torrential rain events like that again. And we cannot sustain another flood like that in Cwmbwrla if we can help it.”

Wider impact across Swansea

Councillors noted flooding affected wards across the city, with leaf fall adding to the challenge of keeping gullies clear. Swansea Council has already urged residents to help by reporting hotspots where leaves are piling up on pavements and roads, as cleansing teams step up their seasonal clear‑up.

Over recent weeks, crews have removed hundreds of tonnes of leaves across the city, with extra resources diverted from other cleansing work to keep drains clear and footpaths safe. A new leaf‑sucking and mulching machine is being used to vacuum up large piles of leaves and shred them into mulch for disposal — allowing teams to cover more ground more quickly.

Cllr Cyril Anderson, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said the new kit would help crews lift even more leaves efficiently, but warned:

“It only takes a couple of days of wind and rain to see a further build‑up, particularly in areas with lots of trees.”

Residents are being encouraged to report problem areas directly to the cleansing team so they can be prioritised for clearance.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Cwmbwrla roundabout reopens after flooding clean‑up
Council teams worked through the night to clear debris and reopen the busy junction following torrential rain.

Council says: Give us a hand with fallen leaves
Residents are urged to report leaf hotspots as crews deploy new equipment to keep drains clear this autumn.

Swansea Council reaffirms City of Sanctuary status in social cohesion vote
Councillors backed a motion to maintain Swansea’s City of Sanctuary status, stressing tolerance and inclusion across communities.

#blockedDrains #CllrAndrewStevens #CllrPeterBlack #CllrPeterMay #CllrRobStewart #culvert #Cwmbwrla #cwmbwrlaFlooding #CwmbwrlaRoundabout #CwmfelinSocialCLub #flooding #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil