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<p>Since 2014 approximately £60 million has been invested in the Somerset Levels and
Moors to reduce the impact of flooding. This includes National Government Flood Defence
Grant in Aid, Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership Funding and precept
raised by the Somerset Rivers Authority. Numerous capital schemes have been delivered
to better protect communities in Somerset as part of the 25 year flood action plan.</p><p>Examples
of measures taken include:</p><ul><li>Dredging over 8.75km of the Rivers Parrett and
Tone in combination with infrastructure improvements at several sites to accommodate
significant additional temporary pumps. These two measures better protect 130 of the
142 houses flooded in 2013/14.</li><li>Construction of a flood defence wall at Westonzoyland
village and road raising at Aller village which better protect 15 houses.</li><li>An
extensive programme of repairs at over 50 locations to river banks, spillways and
pumping stations. This returns assets to their pre-2013/14 flood design condition.</li><li>Major
improvements on the A372 to allow water under the road to reduce the likelihood of
road flooding to a major route, and allow better evacuation of flood waters.</li></ul><p>
</p><p>The Environment Agency has also developed an operational plan of when and how
it will bring in temporary pumps to a number of strategic locations during extreme
events.</p><p> </p><p>Significant future works which are due to be delivered include:</p><ul><li>The
construction of the Bridgwater tidal barrier which will better protect 12,000 homes.</li><li>Improvements/enhancement
of the River Parrett flood relief channel. This will increase channel conveyance through
the relief channel, taking more flood water away from the communities flooded in 2014.</li></ul><p>Maintenance
dredging to maintain the conveyance and channel profile of the 8.75km dredged section
of the Rivers Parrett and Tone.</p>
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