Prince of Wales tells villagers 'holistic' approach is needed to tackle flooding

The Prince of Wales has said a "holistic" approach is needed to tackle severe flooding, as a small Welsh village prepares for the upcoming storm season.

Residents in Skenfrith, Monmouthshire, have faced four major floods in the past six years.

An extreme flood last winter had a devastating impact on the village , when the River Monnow burst its banks after Storm Claudia brought a month's worth of rain in just 24 hours to parts of England and Wales.

Prince William was visiting the area to learn about how communities have been affected by recent flooding and what measures were being taken by local authorities and other agencies to mitigate future incidents.

Over the years, families have reported that their homes and possessions had been destroyed by the floods. In 2019, about 25 homes were evacuated in the village following flooding and a power cut after heavy rain.

The prince sympathised with residents who might be "anxious" about extreme weather events he said were no longer "one in 50-year" occurrences but instead seemed to be happening every year.

On Thursday, the prince spoke to villagers Rod and Helen Wyatt at their garden gate and was told how the water almost topped gravestones in a cemetery opposite during a flood.

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