Flooding symposium held following devastating floods in Somerset

This is the second flooding event to be held by Ms Dyke, who has repeatedly called for the government to take urgent action on flooding in Somerset since her election in 2023. 

The well-attended event was open to residents, businesses, farmers and landowners and town and parish councils from across the Glastonbury and Somerton constituency who had experienced flooding or were concerned about flood risk.   

A variety of agencies and organisations were present to offer advice and support, including Flood Mary, the Somerset Rivers Authority, the Environment Agency, the Somerset Council Emergency Planning Team, Wessex Water, the Emergency Volunteers Action Group, Avon and Somerset Police, the Somerset Drainage Board, and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group. 

Ms Dyke gave a presentation detailing her efforts to secure government support for Somerset in the aftermath of the floods. This included calling a parliamentary debate on the government’s response to Storm Chandra and securing a visit from the minister for water and flooding, after which the Environment Agency committed to reviewing flood protection measures across Somerset. 

Presentations were also given by Flood Mary on flood-proofing properties and businesses and the Knole Flood Group, who have been the recipients of a grant from the Somerset Rivers Authority Community Flood Action Fund.  

Representatives from the Environment Agency also spoke about their response to Storm Chandra and their recently reopened consultation on main river maintenance funding, prompted by Ms Dyke’s repeated calls in Parliament. 

Calls for realistic investment in flood protection and prevention

Sarah Dyke MP said: “While I hope one day these events will no longer be necessary, flooding is only going to get worse with climate change. Unfortunately, Somerset is at the forefront, as extreme weather events like Storm Chandra are only going to grow more frequent and more severe.” 

The MP said that the Somerset communities must be empowered to lead on flood resilience planning.

“It is vital to bring people together at flooding symposiums like these to connect constituents experiencing flood risk with relevant agencies and organisations, ensuring residents can be as prepared as possible to mitigate the devastation caused by flooding.  

“Our communities have the will, the motivation and the expertise to push forward on proper future planning and prevention. But while my constituents can take crucial precautionary measures to protect their homes, land, and livestock, we cannot be expected to handle disasters like Storm Chandra on our own.  

“The government must stop sidelining the South West and take flooding seriously. This is why I have been calling for realistic investment in flood protection and prevention in Somerset since I was first elected in 2023,” she added. 

Ms Dyke said she has written to the flood minister to demand proper ring-fenced funding for the agencies that deal with flooding. 

“I’ve repeatedly asked the government to incentivise farmers to assist in mitigation. I was pleased that the government has listened to my calls and has recently made some funding available, although it is a drop in the ocean and comes far too late for many whose homes and businesses have been devastated yet again. 

“Government responses to flooding incidents such as Storm Chandra must focus on how we can better protect our communities and help them to be more resilient in future.  

“We urgently need to ensure that critical assets are available and can operate at capacity during floods. Joined-up thinking between agencies is also vital and will allow us to benefit from the multitude of flood defence techniques available – from installing permanent pumps at trigger points to pursuing natural flood management solutions and compensating farmers for keeping floodwater on their land, protecting homes further downstream.” 

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