SRA budgets £3.2 million for new Somerset flood works

A new £3.2million programme of flood risk reduction works across Somerset has been approved by the Board of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA).

Following the Board’s annual budget-setting meeting, 14 schemes and activities will go ahead, benefitting dozens of different places.

Projects include dredging and silt-monitoring along the River Parrett, river maintenance on the Somerset Levels and Moors, bank-raising along King’s Sedgemoor Drain, and financial support for Bridgwater Tidal Barrier.

Land management and Natural Flood Management measures will help to slow the flow of water down to vulnerable areas.

Exmoor National Park Authority has been given a grant for a study of how to reconnect an artificially straightened part of the River Barle to its historic floodplain at Simonsbath, to help spread water out and lessen surges downstream, as far down as Dulverton and Brushford.

The SRA and Wessex Water are jointly funding moves to address local flooding problems in Bridgwater, Frome and Watchet, plus investigations into complex flooding issues in Bridgwater, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Chedzoy, Creech St Michael, Taunton, Wellington, Wiveliscombe, Wookey Hole and Yeovil.

Up to 25,000 road gullies will get an extra round of cleansing in places at high risk of flooding, and the SRA’s community engagement team will continue to work on a wide range of projects, including very localised flood monitoring and early-warning systems.

There’s also £200,000 of funding for the SRA’s new Community Flood Action Fund, which helps people with good local knowledge of flooding problems to get things done.

The SRA’s council tax charge is still at the same level it was set at in 2016, meaning £14.65 for a Band D property.

Cllr Mike Stanton, Chair of Somerset Rivers Authority, said: “Every part of the SRA’s programme of works for 2025-26 has been designed to reduce the risks and effects of flooding for people, properties and businesses across Somerset.

“Our funding is limited and doesn’t go as far as it did nine years ago, but we’re still doing many important and worthwhile things. In broad terms, we’re investing in new features that will alter local landscapes in various ways and help to protect Somerset against flooding. We’re also helping to maintain what we’ve already got. This is crucial. Local people expect existing flood defences to work properly.

“We also need to recognise that things are not going to get any easier. Downpours across Somerset are getting fiercer and more unpredictable, with huge amounts of water suddenly surging into properties and causing havoc. Everyone has a part to play in dealing with this: landowners – especially farmers, parish councils, local councillors and the many agencies involved.

“Local communities’ insights into where water flows from and where it flows to are going to be increasingly important in coming up with answers to problems.

“So we’ve set up our new Community Flood Action Fund, and we’re investing in local systems for monitoring flooding, so that we focus together on what’s important to local people.”

Somerset Rivers Authority is a partnership of Somerset Council, the Axe Brue and Parrett Internal Drainage Boards, the Environment Agency, Natural England, Wessex Regional Flood & Coastal Committee, and Wessex Water.

Partners work together as the SRA to achieve more for Somerset than they could individually. The SRA enables partners to go above and beyond their usual schemes and activities, and do extra work on local priorities.

For much fuller details of new SRA activities countywide, read summaries of all 14 actions in the SRA Enhanced Programme 2025-26.

Or download a PDF: PDF of summaries of SRA Enhanced Programme 2025-26 with grant amounts