Residents of Exford, a picturesque village in Somerset, have voiced serious concerns about flood risks linked to a gravel shoal on the River Exe, which threatens a historic pub and nearby homes. The Exmoor White Horse Inn, a landmark dating back to the 16th century, sits along the river within the Exmoor National Park and is at the heart of the community’s worries.
Jeremy Hickman, a former member of Exford Parish Council, has approached the Environment Agency (EA) seeking intervention to remove the gravel shoal that has built up near Exford Bridge. This accumulation has caused alarm among 45 residents in the lower part of the village, who fear potential flooding that could severely impact their homes.
Despite efforts by Somerset Council, which spends around £5,000 annually to clear river vegetation, concerns remain as the shoal has become a solid mass with alder and withy trees rooting within it. The EA has maintained that the shoal is naturally mobile and should shift over time, but locals report minimal change over the past decade.
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The issue was raised during a recent Somerset Rivers Authority board meeting, where Mr Hickman highlighted the urgency of removing the shoal to prevent flood damage. He stressed the practical difficulties, noting that accessing the area for removal work from the river banks-a current EA requirement-is deemed insufficient and that accessing from the opposite side would necessitate machinery infringing on the pub’s garden.
Mr Hickman emphasised the community’s proactive response to previous river hazards but expressed frustration at the lack of timely official support. “We have done the EA’s job for them,” he said, recalling instances when residents cleared fallen branches and debris themselves, often at inconvenient hours.
However, the EA, represented by Ian Withers, director for the Wessex area, explained that jurisdictional boundaries complicate the issue. As the River Exe’s estuary lies in Devon, the proposed works fall under a different operational area, meaning the £50 million flood recovery fund allocated to Somerset following January’s catastrophic floods cannot be used for this purpose.
Mr Withers acknowledged the villagers' concerns and pledged to seek further clarity, stating: “I absolutely take your passion and concern on board. Unless it falls within the Somerset jurisdiction, in terms of the £50m fund, I cannot allocate resources, but I will commit to finding some answers for you.”
Meanwhile, the community of Exford continues to await a resolution that will safeguard their homes and historic pub from potential flood damage, underscoring the challenges of managing river environments that cross administrative boundaries.