Review launched in bid to prevent future flooding problems

AN INVESTIGATION is being launched to see what measures could be taken to prevent further flooding in North Somerset in the future.

North Somerset Council is to review its procedures, such as the frequency of drain, gully and rhyne cleaning at vulnerable locations after dozens of property across the district found themselves several inches under water following recent severe weather.

Currently the council has a maintenance programme where drains are closed every two years and more often in a priority flood area.

But on several occasions this year, drains, gullies and rhynes overtopped, causing floodwater to run into local properties.

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Houses in Kent Road, Congresbury were particularly badly affected with some being flooded four times in eight weeks. Water is believed to have gathered in a rhyne at the rear of the properties, which overflowed and spilled into homes.

Portbury was another village badly affected with the High Street left several inches under water and remaining closed for several days.

A council spokesman said: "Current systems are being reviewed to see if better preventative measures can be introduced, such as increasing the frequency of drain, gully and rhyne cleaning at vulnerable locations focusing on people and property."

The council already has a flood recovery plan in place in partnership with the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Board, Wessex Water and developers.

The authority works closely with partner agencies to co-ordinate the management of flood risk across the district. During the recent bad weather the council drafted in two additional gully-emptying vehicles plus three powerful jetter machines to clear gullies.

Highways gangs were also out digging out gullies and additional staff brought in to deal with the backlog of incidents.

As well as investigating what preventative measures could be put in place, officers are carrying out site inspections across the district to understand the issues, see the affected areas and look at ways to mitigate the extent of flooding.

People are being urged to visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/flood for full details about how to protect their properties and what to do during a flooding incident.