Somerset households to get flood resilience funding before winter
More than £650k will go towards community support and gully maintenance ahead of the colder months
Communities across Somerset will receive funding to help build flood resilience before winter, as part of a £50million Government-backed programme.
Somerset Council confirmed the funding will support a range of projects, from large engineering works to community-based support.
More than £650,000 of the fund will be allocated to communities, emergency response and gully maintenance ahead of the coming winter.
The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced in June that Somerset Council would receive £50million for flood resilience.
What the money will fund
Somerset Council's Executive Committee agreed the programme on Wednesday 23rd September.
It focuses on 15 projects, including additional desilting of river channels, extra gully clearance, improvements to pumping capabilities, extra maintenance work and building new structures.
The programme also includes a ramping up of the My Community flood planning and prevention programme.
An extra £100,000 will go towards Somerset Prepared, a multi-agency partnership that helps communities prepare for and recover from emergencies.
This will fund small grants for equipment such as radios, aerials, tools, personal protective equipment and first aid training.
Community groups can apply for a small grant through Somerset Prepared.
A further £50,000 has been allocated to Somerset Council's emergency response teams.
This funding, which builds on lessons learned during Storm Chandra last January, will go towards emergency communications kits and power packs.
These will allow the council and partner agencies to check on stranded households and run Community Information Points in areas affected by flooding.
An additional £500,000 has been allocated to clear out gullies more frequently in areas most prone to flooding.
The council's team is engaging with clerks and flood wardens in flood-affected villages and towns across Somerset.
This is aimed at developing local solutions through the My Community programme.
The programme is intended to empower communities to identify and oversee delivery of solutions to keep flood water out of homes and businesses.
Work on the first phase of locations is expected to begin by spring 2027.
A wide range of works led by partner organisations will also improve conveyance and pumping capability across the Levels and Moors.
Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset Council's Lead Member for Communities, Climate Change and Environment, said:
"This is a fantastic opportunity for the Council, partner agencies and communities across Somerset to work together and ensure we make the best use possible of the funding.
"A new programme advisory board with representatives from key agencies and the community has been working on the draft programme with the aim of moving at pace to deliver some key measures as soon as possible.
"The My Community Programme will be a crucial part of this."
The Flood Resilience Fund Programme Advisory Group has been set up to review progress on the programme.
It is made up of partner organisations, executive members and key stakeholders, and aims to ensure the interests of all parties are represented.
Flood Awareness Month
Somerset Council is supporting Somerset Flood Awareness Month this October, which is being led by the Somerset Rivers Authority.
There will be events, information and displays at libraries across the county throughout the month.
Selected libraries will host drop-in sessions where people can ask questions, along with half-term workshops.
The main event, the Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Day, will take place on 21st October at Millfield School in Street.
It will bring together councils, community groups, specialists and businesses for talks, workshops, demonstrations and networking.