Sir Ashley Fox has written to the Government’s Flooding Minister, Emma Hardy MP, calling for urgent and sustained action to improve flood resilience across Somerset following another winter of severe rainfall.
In his letter Ashley sets out a detailed package of national and local measures needed to better protect communities across Bridgwater and the Somerset Levels and Moors, warning that current systems are no longer keeping pace with changing weather patterns.
Ashley Fox is asking the Government to act on four key fronts:
Stronger national support
- Increased, ring-fenced Environment Agency funding for the Somerset Levels and Moors, including long-term dredging, pump upgrades and embankment maintenance.
- A review of Environment Agency trigger points, which are based on outdated assumptions about rainfall and runoff.
- Tougher national planning policy on development in flood-risk areas, with clearer use of Community Infrastructure Levy funding for drainage and flood prevention,
- Allowing the Somerset Rivers Authority precept to rise in line with inflation, to maintain its ability to deliver local flood works.
Clearer local responsibilities
- More frequent and proactive gully clearing to reduce surface water flooding.
- Proper ownership, inspection and maintenance of Sustainable Drainage Systems in new developments, backed by commuted sums from developers.
Practical river and catchment interventions
- Extending dredging on the River Parrett and other primary watercourses.
- Reviewing river bank heights and conditions where erosion and settlement have reduced protection.
- Reversing the withdrawal of regular Environment Agency river maintenance.
- Taking a whole-catchment approach, combining traditional engineering with upstream measures to slow the flow.
Improved pumping capacity
- Upgrades at Dunball, Northmoor and Westonzoyland pumping stations.
- Investment in the Elson Clyse pump to ensure reliability and capacity during peak flows.
Ashley Fox MP said, “Somerset residents have faced repeated and avoidable flooding for far too long. With climate patterns shifting and rainfall intensifying, now is the time for decisive action. I have written to the Minister to set out what I believe to be the priority areas to focus on in order to properly protect our communities.”
Ashley has also asked to meet the Minister to discuss the proposals in detail and to ensure Somerset receives the long-term support and investment required to improve flood resilience.
