The vital Dunball Sluice has undergone a £9.7 million refurbishment to bolster its capability of protecting the Somerset Levels and Moors for an additional 25 years. This significant engineering feat was spearheaded by the Environment Agency in collaboration with the Somerset Rivers Authority and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Originally constructed in 1971, the Dunball Sluice is positioned at the convergence of the tidal River Parrett and the King’s Sedgemoor Drain (KSD), functioning to regulate water levels and prevent flooding across the region. Moreover, it serves a crucial role in safeguarding the delicate freshwater habitats of the Somerset Levels and Moors by halting the ingress of tidal saltwater.
The comprehensive refurbishment encompassed the replacement and enhancement of aging mechanical, electrical, and control systems, alongside safety improvements, concrete structure repairs, and provisions for the safe traversal of otters and eels between waterways.
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Rachel Burden, flood and coastal risk manager for the Environment Agency in Wessex, affirmed the significance of the refurbishment, emphasizing its pivotal role in mitigating flood risks for communities in the area. Councillor Mike Stanton, chair of the Somerset Rivers Authority, acknowledged the importance of such maintenance and improvement works in ensuring the proper functioning of flood defenses and their impact on the region.
Floods minister Emma Hardy highlighted the crucial nature of the full refurbishment of the Dunball Sluice, expressing confidence in the extended protection it will provide to properties and farmland in Somerset. This substantial investment reflects the government’s commitment to fortifying existing defenses and constructing new ones in the south-west of England, thereby enhancing flood protection for the region’s populace and businesses.