The Huntspill River, a key flood relief channel in Somerset, may undergo significant improvements to increase its capacity to manage floodwaters across the Levels and Moors. Constructed in 1940 to support the Royal Ordnance Factory near Bridgwater—now the location of a new ‘gigafactory’ within the Gravity enterprise zone—the channel has long played a crucial role in Somerset’s flood defense system.
The Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) is exploring plans to de-silt the Huntspill River, which would allow for greater water storage and mitigate flooding after heavy rain events. The river receives water from two areas of the River Brue catchment: the South Drain running through the Avalon Marshes near Glastonbury, and the Cripps River south of East Huntspill. These tributaries converge and flow through infrastructure such as the Gold Corner pumping station, passing north of the Gravity site and beneath major roads including the M5 and A38, before emptying into the River Parrett, and ultimately the Bristol Channel.
Following a thorough assessment by the River Brue steering group, established by the SRA, several flood prevention proposals were evaluated. These range from large-scale projects like lowering the Huntspill River’s water level and expanding the Highbridge Clyse—which blocks tidal water from the Bristol Channel—to smaller interventions such as reinforcing river banks.
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After comprehensive modeling of the entire catchment, the group identified three key measures to deliver the greatest flood defense improvements. The central focus is reducing retained water levels in the Huntspill River before flood events, which could diminish reliance on pumping at Gold Corner by enabling gravity flow. However, challenges such as silt accumulation and environmental considerations must be addressed.
The cost of enhancing the Huntspill River’s capacity is estimated at around £1 million, in addition to £290,000 allocated for bank improvements elsewhere in the Brue catchment. SRA chairman Mike Stanton emphasized the need for funding collaboration between the Environment Agency, drainage boards, and the SRA itself to realize these projects.
Vice-chairman Tony Bradford acknowledged frustrations with delays over the past decade but stressed the urgency for action: “People living in the Brue catchment want to see tangible progress. After significant efforts on the River Parrett, it’s time for the Brue area to benefit from effective flood defenses.”
Somerset Drainage Board Consortium chief executive Iain Sturdy recognized the concerns about the timeline but regarded the ongoing steps as positive. He highlighted the substantial impact flood prevention measures could have on reducing flood extent and duration, while noting that funding mechanisms may need to adapt to support these initiatives.
An update on the progress of this work will be presented to the SRA board at its meeting scheduled for September 11.