A LANDLADY whose Llandysul pub filled with water during Storm Callum is one the first businesses to benefit from a Carmarthenshire Council bailout.

Lisa Roblin, of The Half Moon Inn, Pontwelly, is still in a clean-up and recovery mode after the October deluge but hopes to reopen this month.

Coutny council leader Emlyn Dole has approved Miss Roblin’s £4,569 business flood relief application, subject to terms and conditions being met.

Affected businesses can apply to the authority for up to 50 per cent of clean-up and rebuilding costs to a maximum level of £9,999, meaning the most they can receive is £4,999.

Miss Roblin said the funding would help pay for a new kitchen, flooring and tables and chairs.

“The money has not come through yet – we are desperately trying to open in two weeks’ time,” she said.

“The brewery is on board, but we’re waiting for the builders.”

The Station Road pub is close to the where the River Teifi meets the River Tyweli, and Miss Roblin said the water levels rose rapidly on Saturday, October 13.

She said attempts to arrange sandbags from environment body Natural Resources Wales on the morning of the flood were unsuccessful, and that passing vehicles generated a wake which pushed more water into the pub.

The 40-year-old, her partner, dog and three children, aged 14, 11 and 10 months, were evacuated before returning the next day – only to be told they could not stay because of a gas leak and live electricity wire.

Miss Roblin, who has run the pub for 13 years, said the council was very helpful in the days after Storm Callum.

She also thanked the Pontwelly community, including the church partnership which delivered food, school dinners for children and arranged a furniture and white goods donation point, for their support.

Miss Roblin said she can get a bit nervous watching the weather forecast since the flood.

“You don’t realise it at the time, but it does have an effect,” she said.

Nearby food business Babs Takeaway has received just over £3,000 from the £200,000 council relief fund, while canoe and kayak specialists White Water Consultancy, Bronwydd, is getting £4,972.

Babs Takeaway owner Barbara Davies said she needed new fridges and freezers, and that she hoped to be “90%” up and running next week.

She said she was grateful for the funding and to customers for their support.

“They have been very good,” she said.

Around 120 businesses in Carmarthenshire were affected by the storm, and the A484 between Newcastle Emlyn and Carmarthen at Cwmduad is unlikely to reopen until the new year following landslides, which claimed the life of Newcastle Emlyn man Corey Sharpling.