Two employers on Maerdy Industrial Estate in Rhymney have been forced to restrict access after independent engineers identified a “significant” sinkhole risk beneath a car park. The problem centres on a failing culvert that carries the entirety of the River Rhymney beneath the site and which may require remedial work costing as much as £4 million.
Immediate disruption and long-term uncertainty
Williams Medical Supplies (WMS), one of the United Kingdom’s leading suppliers of medical products to GPs and a major local employer, has stopped using the affected car park and an access route as a precaution. The company, which operates at the site with more than 150 staff, said safety was its top priority.
“The safety of our employees, visitors, contractors, and the wider community has been, and remains, our overriding priority.”
The land above the culvert is owned by Eco Technology Ltd (ETL), an electronics and cable recycling firm employing more than 70 people. ETL says it only learnt of the culvert’s existence in 2025 and now faces a potential repair bill it cannot afford.
What we know so far
- Independent engineers published a report in July flagging a significant sinkhole risk beneath the car park.
- WMS suspended use of the car park immediately following the engineers’ recommendation and commissioned further ground monitoring.
- A follow-up survey of the site was carried out in July 2026.
- Estimated repair costs have been reported at up to £4 million, placing a heavy burden on the landowner.
Both businesses remain operational, but the restriction of parking and access routes has already altered day-to-day arrangements and raised concerns about the longer-term viability of normal operations if a durable solution is not found.
Local impact and responsibilities
The situation highlights the complexity that can arise when hidden or ageing infrastructure lies beneath commercial land. Responsibility for remediation typically rests with the landowner, but the scale of the quoted repair bill has left ETL contesting how the work should be funded and undertaken.
| Detail | Reported information |
|---|---|
| Concern | Failing culvert carrying the River Rhymney |
| Estimated repair cost | Up to £4 million |
| WMS employees | More than 150 |
| ETL employees | More than 70 |
| Key dates | Inspection flagged in 2025; independent report and new survey in July 2026 |
At present there has been no public statement indicating a funding solution or a timetable for repair. For workers at both firms and the wider Rhymney community, the priority will be clarity about safety measures and a plan to protect jobs and local business continuity.
I will continue to monitor developments and seek clarification from Caerphilly County Borough Council, both businesses and the engineers involved, and will report any updates as they become available.
