Flood-hit farmer welcomes prevention projects

A farmer who saw his land devastated by flooding has welcomed the allocation of funding towards flood prevention measures.

Somerset Council has allocated a government grant of £50m on flood prevention work, including dredging, improvements to pumping stations and flood warning systems.

James Winslade, a farmer near Burrowbridge in Somerset who saw "every bit" of the family's 900 acres underwater in 2014, hopes the money can help prevent future disasters.

"It's brilliant to have that money. Dredging and permanent pumps mean we can get water moving a lot quicker," said Winslade, adding he was keen for work to be completed.

"The trouble is, the money hasn't been spent. Now we're catching up from lack of investment," Winslade added.

"I'd like to actually see work being done on the ground."

Winslade, whose family has farmed on the Somerset Levels for three generations, was among people who had to evacuate during the floods which made international headlines.

In June, the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs announced that Somerset Council would be allocated £50m for flood resilience.

Since then, the council has developed a flood resilience programme consisting of 15 projects the money will be spent on.

The first allocation will be about £650,000 for communities, emergency response, and to fund gully maintenance ahead of the coming winter.

One of the community projects is My Community, a Somerset Council programme supplying residents with home maintenance and installation of flood-resilient washing machines, toilets and showers.

Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset Council's lead member for communities, climate change and environment, said an advisory board with people from key agencies and the community has been working on a draft programme "with the aim of moving at pace to deliver some key measures as soon as possible".

"The My Community programme will be a crucial part of this," she said.

Somerset Levels resident and flooding campaigner Bryony Sadler said: "Some of the projects that are being used I'm not in favour of.

"No matter how good your drainage system is, unless it's unblocked, that water is still going to be here and it's going to affect us and then we can't go to the shop and the railway is flooded."

Some of the funds will go to help the Internal Drainage Boards carry out additional dredging and desilting work.

And about £3m will help the Environment Agency (EA) improve existing pumping stations across Somerset.

"With winter fast approaching, we're pleased Somerset Council has confirmed that flood resilience funding will reach communities before challenging weather sets in, and we'll continue working closely with the council and partners on the programme," an EA spokesperson said.

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