Scam email warning
Monmouthshire County Council is urging residents to be vigilant following reports of a spoof email claiming to have been sent from the British Red Cross which is circulating in the community.
The message attempts to lure recipients into providing their bank details via a web portal in relation to a Flooding Grant Claim – which has long since closed.
This email is not genuine.
Neither the British Red Cross nor Monmouthshire County Council will ever ask you to provide bank details, passwords, or other personal financial information through an unsolicited link.
If you have received such an Email – DO NOT click any links or attachments. DO NOT enter any personal or financial information. DO NOT reply to the message.
Phishing emails often:
- Use urgent or threatening language
- Contain spelling or grammar mistakes
- Come from addresses that look unusual or incorrect or direct you to websites that do not match the organisation they claim to be from
If something feels wrong — stop and check. You can hover over links to see where they really lead, and contact the organisation directly using trusted details from their official website. We can only encourage recipients to continue to report this scam. If you have received this or any other suspicious email – you can report this via: Reporting cyber crime and fraud or phishing attempts – Report Fraud or forward it to: report@phishing.gov.uk
If you believe you may have shared personal or banking information, please contact your bank immediately and seek advice.
Monmouthshire County Council is working with relevant partners to raise awareness of this spoof email and to help protect our wider community. Please share this message with friends, family, and neighbours — especially those who may be more vulnerable to online scams.
To quickly find the right information for you, please click on one of the below headings and it will take you to the relevant section.
Photo Credit: South Wales Fire and Rescue
Flooding Information & Support
A Message from Trading Standards
Trading Standards are warning residents to be aware of rogue traders preying on the desperate and vulnerable after Storm Claudia..
In the coming weeks, householders and business owners should not agree to work from tradespeople who knock on their doors uninvited touting for business.
Historically, this type of offender will attempt to capitalise on recent events, often creating an inflated sense of urgency or risk meaning a householder or business will feel pressurised to agree to the work.
If someone knocks at your door and tells you your house needs repairs or maintenance of any kind, you need to be suspicious and close your door.
Trading Standards advise people facing paying for repairs to get recommendations from friends or family, and always try to source three quotes.
Those affected can consider approved trader schemes to find businesses to help with repairs. These include:
- TrustMark – https://www.trustmark.org.uk/homeowne
- Buy with Confidence – https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk
- Which – https://trustedtraders.which.co.uk.
- For residents over 60 – Care and Repair – https://careandrepair.org.uk/
Further information on finding reputable businesses can be found on the Citizens Advice Website – Find a trader and check you can trust them – Citizens Advice
Monmouthshire County Council also encourage residents to report any concerns they have about suspicious doorstep callers calling in their area to Citizens Advice Consumer Centre on 0808 223 1133, or 0808 223 1144 for Welsh language calls.
Care and Repair Monmouthshire and Torfaen
Have you been affected by the recent floods?
If you are a homeowner or private tenant and meet any of the criteria below, Care & Repair Monmouthshire and Torfaen may be able to support you:
- Aged 60 or over
- Aged 50 or over with sight or hearing loss, living with dementia, or a stroke survivor
- Aged 50 or over and recently discharged from hospital
Care & Repair Monmouthshire and Torfaen are a charitable organisation committed to helping older people stay safe and independent in their homes.
Our team can give friendly advice, guide you through repairs, and help you avoid cowboy builders by connecting you with trusted, reputable contractors. We can also provide technical support to make sure any work carried out is safe and appropriate.
Waste and Recycling
If you need additional waste collection for damaged flood related items. Please call our Contact Centre on 01633 644644 (Monday – Thursday 9am – 5pm, Friday 9am – 4:30pm).
Our teams will then organise a date and time to collect items.
Remember, you can also visit our Household Waste Recycling Centres. Find out how to book a time slot here: www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/household-waste-recycling-centres/
Survey
Businesses
Humanitarian Centre
The Humanitarian Centre at the Shire Hall in Monmouth has been here to support our businesses and residents affected by Storm Claudia.
We want to thank everyone who has donated items and our partner organisations for being on hand to help our residents.
As a council, we will continue to support residents and businesses as they continue to recover from the flooding caused by Storm Claudia. As we move forward, our teams will continue to have a presence at Shire Hall and our Community Hubs, and further support will be available through our Contact Centre on 01633 644644 (Monday – Thursday 9am – 5pm, Friday 9am – 4:30pm).
Items donated to help residents and businesses with the clean-up will remain available. If you need items, please speak to our teams at Shire Hall, Community Hubs, or our Contact Centre.
From 6 December, the Shire Hall will reopen as a tourism destination in the lead-up to Christmas, while also providing residents and businesses with an information point on the continued support available.
Roads and Pathways
Road Closures
Route: R7
Road Closed due to landslip
Route: Lower Cwm Nant Gam Road, near Llanelly Hill
(updated 22 Dec 2025)
The Lower Cwm Nant Gam project is progressing but remains dependent on Natural Resources Wales (NRW) approval, which is expected by the end of January following the completed online submission. Once consent has been granted, a contractor (already confirmed) will mobilise in mid-February. We continue to have constant communication with NRW.
The site, located within an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), cannot proceed without formal assent.
The road remains under emergency TTRO closure due to embankment slips worsened by Storm Claudia, with MCC reviewing signage, diversions, and alternative gritting routes for safety.
Route: C6.9, GLANBAIDEN FARM ROAD
Road Closed due landslide & retaining wall failure
Route: B4347@ Kentchurch – OPEN (update 19/12/2025)
Paths and walking trail updates
Update Sunday 16 November
Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail and Wye Valley Walk should be avoided until further notice due to major flooding of rivers to and through Monmouth.
Inspections for damage will be carried out as soon as it is safe to do so and further communications will advise if any diversions are then necessary.
Abergavenny Leisure Centre
Swimming Pool Closure – Abergavenny
Work on the ceiling has now begun to repair the damage caused by the unforeseen impact of Storm Claudia and to ensure the swimming pool is safe for future use. However, the scale of the project is far greater than originally anticipated. The required scaffolding is highly complex and has been carefully designed to protect the pool and surrounding areas from further damage. Our scaffolding team has worked tirelessly, including weekends, to get this in place as quickly as possible.
While we are working hard to complete the work safely, the complexity means that swimming lessons will not resume until Monday, 5 January. We understand this is disappointing, and we truly appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.
We are hopeful that the pool may reopen for public swimming ahead of Christmas, subject to progress, and we will provide further updates as we get closer to confirming this.
Information from External Organisations
Natural Resources Wales / Check river levels, rainfall and sea data
Natural Resources Wales – Flood Warnings