Following the severe flooding caused by Storm Chandra earlier this year, experts are calling for housing developers to contribute funding for permanent pumping infrastructure in Somerset. The flooding, which disrupted communities across the county in January and February, has reignited demands for enhanced flood defenses and a thorough review of water management across the Somerset Levels and Moors.
The Environment Agency (EA), which allocated £5 million in emergency response during the storm, is currently considering new permanent pumps at Bathpool near Taunton and investing £9 million to upgrade existing pumping stations throughout Somerset.
Tony Bradford, vice-chair of the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) and member of the Parrett Internal Drainage Board, insists that relying on temporary pumps is insufficient. He advocates for housing developments to contribute via the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to fund permanent pumping solutions, addressing the increased water runoff from new developments that exacerbate flooding risks.
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Ross Edwards, representing the EA, outlined the agency’s response at the recent Somerset Rivers Authority board meeting in Bridgwater on June 5. He emphasized the agency’s commitment to maintaining the Levels and Moors as a pump-managed system and welcomed the installation of permanent pumps, provided necessary funding is secured. He noted that temporary pumps offer vital flexibility but recognized the benefits of permanent installations, particularly in sparsely populated areas, where existing permanent pumping capacity is nearing optimization.
Recent upgrades include new pumps at Huish Episcopi, with plans underway for improvements at Midelney, Northmoor, and Westover stations. Iain Study of the Somerset Drainage Board Consortium called the EA’s investment “great news,” stressing the importance of future collaboration to explore new methods for operating and fueling pumps and enhancing the ease of deploying temporary pumps when needed.
Tony Bradford criticized the delayed deployment of temporary pumps during the recent floods, highlighting that it took up to two weeks for the pumps to be operational, by which time significant water damage had already occurred. He argued that permanent pumps, which can be switched on immediately during flood events, would provide residents with peace of mind and improved protection. With three major floods in the past decade, he insists that such infrastructure is no longer optional.
Bradford calls for a proportion of CIL funds from housing developments to be allocated specifically for creating and maintaining permanent pumping capacity to mitigate the increased flood risk caused by new construction. “Residents shouldn’t have to fear getting evacuation notices. Permanent pumps funded in part by developers will help secure our communities from the devastating impacts of flooding,” he said.