A wildlife volunteer and angler from Newport has been recognised for his quick-thinking during Storm Bert.
45-year-old Ben Edmunds is the chairman of Angling Watch UK and looks after Lliswerry Ponds.
He’s been looking after the pond for the past 4 years.
During storm Bert Ben realised that water in the pond was rapidly rising and unless something was done to stop the excess water flow residential housing near the pond would flood.
Ben acted fast and connected a team of local councillors and let them know how bad the situation was.
He asked what the reen levels were throughout the ward as the pond was at breaking point.
This triggered a chain of correspondence between councillors and residents and within 30 minutes councillors calculated flood risk in the ward.
He then worked to ensure the pond released as little water as possible so no purge of water would head to the main Lliswerry reen and flood properties.
Since then, residents who live on Thompson Avenue have congratulated him for playing his part during the storm.
Ben said: “I was on a mission! I was checking the reens and we slowed the water down because we were at breaking point.
“We used a steel plate which made the water go down a lot slower and it was controlled. If I took that away it would have gone down at such a speed it would have flooded the area.”
Speaking to the councillors they said it could have caused a lot of problems, and the one councillor said ‘listen, you guys need to be recognised because not a lot of people understand what you do’.”
The incident took place Sunday November 24th around 10:00am.
In a post on online Facebook group ‘Lliswerry Ward Matters’ Councillor Sterry praised Ben and said: ‘Well done to Ben keeping Lliswerry free from flooding.
‘The reens did what they were installed many centuries previously to do. Channelling the water through to the River Usk.
‘This is why we must ensure that are reens are free from blockages. If trolleys or bags of fly tipping are disposed into the reen, then this will add to our problems and will cause blockages and ultimately flooding.’
Online feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
One user wrote: ‘Thank you Ben, and all the councillors you all do a fantastic job.’
Another person said: ‘Well done and thank you.’
This person said: ‘Thank you Ben and also thank you to our councillors and Lliswerry Ward Matters for looking after us all.’