Flood Recovery Update - May 2026

Since this winter’s floods, much has been going on in Somerset with recovery and review. The second wettest January and February on record was followed by a very dry spring; in Wessex, March and April saw 54% and 32% of the long-term average rainfall respectively. This illustrates the corresponding challenge of managing dry weather in a changing climate.

Major flood events can damage flood defence structures and equipment, and we have been undertaking an extensive programme of post-flood inspections. To date, we have inspected more than 1700 assets across Wessex to check where structures need repairs, with more inspections due to be completed this month. We are seeking additional funding to undertake repair work where needed. We are also nearing completion of a bypass culvert around Viney’s Bridge to improve flows to Northmoor Pumping Station.

A multi-agency flood recovery drop-in was held in Bathpool at the end of April, and information gathered at the event will inform Somerset Council’s report into the flooding that occurred there. This is known as a Section 19 investigation, and is a statutory duty under the Flood and Water Management Act when a significant number of properties in a community are flooded internally.

At present, Bathpool is the only location in Somerset where this winter’s flooding triggered a Section 19 investigation, but that doesn’t mean that other areas have been forgotten. We are working closely with partners including the Internal Drainage Board and Somerset Council to actively review information about flooding that occurred across the county. Somerset Council will be leading on a report on the Somerset Levels and Moors flooding, looking to identify learning and opportunities. The Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of all emergency response organisations, has also undertaken a debrief of the operational response across the county.

We are evaluating how our flood defence structures and equipment performed, and reviewing the overall response to the floods. We are looking for opportunities for further improvements that would reduce flood risk and improve efficiency and safety in future floods. We are also reviewing the trigger levels for pump deployment, and examining the feasibility and challenges of making temporary pump infrastructure permanent.

We are collecting important flood data, such as flood extents, that will help us better understand and manage flood risk in the future. We are also reviewing our own incident procedures to understand if any improvements could be made.

We continue to work with partners and communities across Wessex, and we will be attending further events including the Hestercombe Local Community Network meeting and Somerset Rivers Authority board meeting in June. These meetings provide an important forum where residents can hear updates and ask questions.