A rural flooding action group has welcomed a £50 million government funding boost as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to protect Somerset communities from future flooding.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced that Somerset Council will receive £50 million to enhance flood defences and improve water management following severe flooding caused by Storm Chandra this past winter.
Somerset Council is expected to release detailed plans on how the money will be spent within the coming weeks, with all projects scheduled for completion within two years.
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The Three Villages Flood Group (3VFG), representing the communities of Ashington, Chilton Cantelo, and Mudford in the River Yeo catchment north of Yeovil, warmly welcomed the funding announcement. However, the group emphasized the importance of including rural communities in decision-making and addressing flooding issues upstream before they impact lower-lying areas of the county.
Group chair Kay Mackenzie stated, “This funding is excellent news for Somerset and we strongly welcome it. However, flood resilience does not begin on the Somerset Levels. Water starts its journey much further upstream. If we are serious about reducing flood risk across Somerset, we must consider the entire catchment area — from villages, watercourses, farmland, and drainage systems well before the water reaches the Levels.”
Residents in the three villages have repeatedly experienced road flooding, threats to homes and businesses, and community disruption during severe weather events. Concerns are mounting with significant housing growth planned in Mudford, following a failed judicial review of the Up Mudford development near Yeovil, with fears that expansion could worsen localized flooding.
Mackenzie added, “When roads flood in villages such as Mudford, Chilton Cantelo, and Ashington, communities can become isolated, travel is disrupted, and emergency access becomes difficult. These events are just as significant to residents as flooding elsewhere. Rural communities deserve to be part of the solution and receive fair investment.”
The group has begun assembling a comprehensive evidence base, including photographs, flood records, resident testimonies, and local knowledge of watercourses and drainage infrastructure. The review focuses on road and transport flooding, risks to properties, community isolation during extreme weather, infrastructure constraints, impacts of future development, and opportunities for natural flood management.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” Mackenzie concluded. “The greatest benefits will come from investing throughout the catchment. By slowing, storing, and managing water upstream, we can protect local communities and enhance flood resilience downstream.”
Somerset Council leader Bill Revans assured that various partner organizations will be consulted before final decisions on spending the grant are made.
He said, “We are pleased the government has responded to our call for urgent action and welcome this critical investment in Somerset’s future. This winter highlighted how uniquely vulnerable Somerset is to climate change impacts, making it clear we must help our communities adapt and become more resilient. We will work closely with partners including the Environment Agency, Somerset Rivers Authority, Internal Drainage Boards, Natural England, and, most importantly, our local communities to ensure the funds are wisely invested to deliver lasting benefits for years to come.”