SRA Annual Report 2022-23: Introduction to Building Local Resilience
One of the six main objectives of Somerset’s 20 Year Flood Action Plan is to “Increase resilience to flooding for families, agriculture, business, communities and wildlife”.
This SRA workstream seeks to fulfill that aim in several different ways. For example, through encouraging practical moves that help people to get better prepared for any flooding. Also through fostering greater understanding of local flood risks, of the implications of climate change and of possible adaptations to that, and of the riparian responsibilities that come with owning watercourses and structures such as drains and culverts.
In 2022-23, activities in this workstream were somewhat curtailed because the SRA Community Engagement Officer and the SRA Community Engagement Support Officer left to work for the Environment Agency in Wessex and the RSPB in Scotland, respectively.
A lot, however, was still done across the county, through supporting local communities affected by flooding (in places such as Chard, Forton and Tatworth, Ilminster, Martock, Shepton Mallet and Croscombe), making school visits (such as to Bridgwater College Academy), and giving talks (such as to landowners in Combe St Nicholas about riparian responsibilities).
Two new officers are due to be recruited in 2023.