The vital upgrades to key sections of Somerset’s flood defences have been delayed until spring and summer 2025. The Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) and the Environment Agency (EA) have been implementing various improvements to the River Sowy and King’s Sedgemoor Drain (KSD) with the aim of enhancing the region’s flood protection.
Several improvements have been undertaken in the past two years, including dredging silt from river banks and bridges to improve capacity and facilitate faster water flow off the moors. Despite initial hopes of completing some enhancements by the end of the current year, the board announced that all elements of the project will now commence in 2025 to ensure certainty of delivery and costs.
The outstanding elements of the current program focus on upgrades to the Chedzoy tilting weir and the Back Ditch outfall, both crucial for reducing agricultural land flooding in the region. Originally slated to commence in September 2023, the projects have faced setbacks, and the necessary work is now scheduled to begin in 2025.
READ MORE: Surveyor Condemns Modern Halloween
READ MORE: Luxurious Somerset Property Boasting Breathtaking Lake Views
The Somerset Drainage Board Consortium (SDBC) recommended a complete replacement of both structures, at an increased cost of £250,000, which resulted in further delays. In addition to these structures, the EA is evaluating raising the left bank of the KSD to increase its capacity, with potential completion by July 2025.
The board has agreed to release the £250,000 required for the Back Ditch and Chedzoy tilting weir upgrades to proceed in spring, with further updates expected in January.