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Flood Control: Somerset Levels

Answer

The Somerset Levels and Moors are designed to flood and the moors store flood water when the rivers flowing through them overtop. The recent heavy rain has caused spillways on the Rivers Tone and Parrett to flow and there is now water stored on the moors. This water can only be pumped back into the rivers when river levels and tides allow. It will therefore never be possible to prevent some properties from flooding occasionally, especially those that are at or below sea level.

Since the flood event in 2013/14, £80 million has been invested in flood risk interventions, which will help the Environment Agency (EA), working with its partners, to reduce flood risk to properties and infrastructure. Interventions include road raising and new control structures to ensure access, dredging of the Rivers Parrett and Tone to ensure maximum conveyance, new flood alleviation schemes, more efficient deployment of temporary pumps at pumping stations, repairs to existing defences, and construction of new schemes. Further details of these interventions can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/somerset-levels-and-moors-reducing-the-risk-of-flooding/somerset-levels-and-moors-reducing-the-risk-of-flooding (copy attached to this answer).

Asset management is also an integral part of the EA’s incident response and recovery function. This includes proactive, preventative maintenance and replacement to ensure that flood risk management assets operate as and when required. During the current flood incident in this area, the EA has used drones to augment its on-the-ground inspections and check that all its assets are fit for purpose.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

HL4790

Session

2022-23

Attachment

Attachment for HL4790

Subjects

Flood control Somerset Levels

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk