SRA Annual Report 2023-24: Enhanced maintenance of road drainage structures
Two programmes of enhanced maintenance were organised for the SRA by the Somerset Council Highways Department during 2023-24. These programmes helped to keep roads open, make them safer, preserve access for communities, and safeguard properties from flooding.
Gully emptying
Along 984 stretches of road, from Oare and Dulverton across to Frome, and from Misterton up to Cheddar and Tellisford, SRA funding enabled Somerset Council’s Highways Department to give around 23,000 of the highest-risk gullies countywide a second round of emptying, six months after their first council-funded clearout.
Drain jetting
139 drains were jetted for the SRA in 2023-24, by former Somerset district council area as follows: 39 in Mendip; 12 in Sedgemoor; 67 in Somerset West and Taunton; 21 in South Somerset.
Under existing budgets, the Highways Department can only afford to jet drains when a bad blockage has occurred.
SRA funding allows for earlier preventative maintenance at locations known to suffer problems with flooding. Selections of drains for jetting are made using local knowledge and professional judgement.
Mendip
Ashwick, High Street;
Baltonsborough, Muchelney Road;
Batcombe, Hincombe Hill, and Westcombe Stables to Westcombe Road;
Beckington, Rudge Lane;
Berkley, Bath Road / Oldford Hill;
Chilcompton, Wells Road;
Coleford, Charity Lane;
Ditcheat, Ditcheat Hill;
Doulting, Merryfield Lane;
East Pennard, Easton Lane, and Parbrook Lane;
Frome, Christchurch St West / Badcox / Broadway, and Rodden Road, and Vallis Road;
Glastonbury, Avalon Estate, and (twice) Chilkwell Street / Coursing Batch, and Cinnamon Lane, and Northload Bridge;
Hemington, Southfield Hill;
Mells, Vobster Hill;
North Wootton, Stocks Lane;
Pilton, Compton Lane;
Rode, Rode Hill;
Rodney Stoke, Stoke Road / Wells Road, and The Street;
St Cuthbert Out, Easton Hill, and Old Bristol Road;
Selwood, Cole Hill;
Shepton Mallet, Martins Lane; Street, Brooks Road, and Fielding Road;
Tellisford, Old School To Bath Road;
Upton Noble, Lower Street;
Wells, New Street, and St Thomas Street;
Whatley, Murder Combe;
Wookey, Yarley Hill.
Sedgemoor
Bridgwater Town, Mount Street;
Burnham-On-Sea & Highbridge, Bristol Road;
Burnham Without, Mark Road;
Catcott, Manor Road, and Old School Lane;
Cheddar, Parsons Pen to B3151 Lower New Road;
East Huntspill, Church Road;
Mark, Kingsway;
Weare, Turnpike Road;
Wedmore, Wells Road;
West Huntspill, Main Road;
Woolavington, Cossington Lane.
Somerset West and Taunton
Ash Priors, Combe Florey Road;
Bishop’s Lydeard, Greenway, and Mill Lane;
Bradford-On-Tone, Hele Road, and (twice) Oake Road;
Brompton Ralph, Forches Cross to Cordings Ball, and Winters Lane to Elworthy Cross;
Brompton Regis, Haddon View;
Burrowbridge, Stathe Road;
Carhampton, Park Lane;
Chipstable, Waterrow Road;
Comeytrowe, Comeytrowe Lane;
Cotford St Luke, Tithill Lane;
Crowcombe, Broad Oak Hill;
Cutcombe, Exford to Wheddon Cross Road;
Dulverton, Andrews Hill;
Exford, Exford to Simonsbath Road;
Exmoor, Simonsbath to Blue Gate;
Huish Champflower, Chitcombe Rocks Lane;
Kingston St Mary, Kingston Road, Pickney Lane, and (twice) Yarford Road;
Langford Budville, Milverton Road;
Milverton, Screedy Lane;
Minehead, Brunel Way, and The Parade, and Spring Gardens;
Oake, Frog Street, and Wiveliscombe Road;
Old Cleeve, Comberow Lane, and Mount Lane;
Pitminster, Blagdon Hill Road;
Porlock, Sparkhayes Lane;
Ruishton, Ilminster Road;
Selworthy, Headon Cross to Tivington Cross;
Skilgate, Frogwell Cross to Skilgate;
Stawley, Cockland Hill;
Stogumber, Nevys Lane;
Taunton, Albemarle Road, and Corkscrew Lane, and Lambrook Road, and Hammet Street, and Luxhay Close, and St Peters Close, and Wilton Grove;
Trull, Amberd Lane and Gatchell Green;
Wellington, Bovet Street, and Hilly Head, and Oaken Ground, and Oldway Road, and Shuteleigh, and South Street, and Wellington Relief Road;
West Buckland, Dyers Close;
West Monkton, Hyde Lane, and (twice) Monkton Heathfield Road;
Williton, Williton to Bridgwater Road (twice);
Wiveliscombe, Ford Road, and Langford Budville Road, and Maundown Road, and South Molton Road;
Wootton Courtenay, Ranscombe Road.
South Somerset
Barrington, Ruskway Lane;
Castle Cary, The Park;
Charlton Mackrell, Withy Hays Road;
East Coker, Main Street;
Hinton St George, Merriott Road, and South Street;
Langport, Bow Street / Cheapside;
Lopen, Mill Lane;
Montacute, Bishopston (twice), and Middle Street;
Mudford, Hinton Road;
North Cadbury, Cary Road, and Corkscrew Lane, and Woolston Road;
Pen Selwood, Coombe Street;
Rimpton, Back Lane;
Shepton Montague, Higher Shepton Road;
Wincanton, West Hill;
Yarlington, Sticklepark Lane;
Yeovilton, Podimore Road.