Following the severe flooding caused by Storm Chandra in early 2024, there are renewed calls for increased investment in Somerset’s flood defenses, focusing especially on the installation of permanent pumps to manage water levels across the Levels and Moors.
The Environment Agency (EA), which allocated £5 million for emergency responses during the storms, is currently exploring the installation of additional permanent pumps in the Bathpool area of Taunton and is investing £9 million to upgrade existing pumping stations across the county. Despite these efforts, Tony Bradford, vice-chair of the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) and member of the Parrett Internal Drainage Board, has emphasized the need for further funding to be sourced from local housing developments.
Bradford argues that the current strategy relying heavily on temporary pumps falls short. “Temporary pumping isn’t working; otherwise, the council wouldn’t have declared a serious incident,” he stated, highlighting that delays in activating temporary pumps during flooding left residents vulnerable. With multiple severe floods occurring in the past decade, he advocates for permanent pumping solutions that can be activated promptly to safeguard communities.
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The community infrastructure levy (CIL), charged on certain new housing developments, presents a potential funding stream for these permanent flood defenses. Bradford suggests that a portion of this levy should be dedicated specifically to installing pumps capable of managing the excess water runoff linked to new developments, which exacerbate flood risks in Somerset’s low-lying areas.
Ross Edwards of the EA affirmed their commitment to operating a pump-managed system for the Somerset Levels and Moors, acknowledging the value of both permanent and temporary pumping capabilities for flexibility in flood response. Meanwhile, Iain Study from the Somerset Drainage Board Consortium welcomed the ongoing EA investments and expressed interest in collaborating on innovative solutions for pump operation and fuel sources.
The push to have housing developers contribute funding for permanent pumping infrastructure reflects a broader effort to safeguard Somerset’s communities against increasingly frequent flooding, ensuring quicker, more reliable flood management and peace of mind for residents.