The designs of a tidal barrier designed to protect Bridgwater from flooding will not be shown to the public until late-November.

The Environment Agency (EA) has been working with Sedgemoor District Council to design and construct a barrier over the River Parrett north of the town, with a view to it being operational by 2024.

The EA had originally intended to hold a public exhibition at an unconfirmed location on October 5, to publicise the intended design and get feedback from the public whose homes and businesses would be protected.

But this event has now been pushed back by up to two months to allow more time for the detailed design of the barrier.

The EA will be sending the following statement to all parish and town councils in the Bridgwater area: “We wrote to you earlier this month to request you publicise our public exhibition on October 5.

“We have recently taken the decision to postpone the exhibition until late November or early December.

“We continue to develop the outline design for the barrier and operational site together with the downstream defence improvements. We will let you know as soon as we have a confirmed new date for the exhibition.”

The Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA), which oversees major flood prevention schemes across the county, discussed the barrier plans at a board meeting held in Williton on September 7.

Doug Bamsey, strategic director at Sedgemoor District Council, assured the board that “good progress is being made” on both the design and the lengthy process of obtaining planning permission for the project.

Andy Hohl, the EA’s project manager, said in his written report that the capital and maintenance cost of the barrier and the banks downstream was currently estimated at £99m.

However, he argued that it would deliver benefits of £1.331bn, protecting 11,500 homes and 1,500 businesses.

He said:” The barrier will be located between Express Park and Chilton Trinity village. It will have two vertical lift gates.

“The scheme includes improvements to the existing downstream primary flood defences along the River Parrett, together with new secondary defences in the flood plain.

“All funding opportunities are being investigated, including the Housing Infrastructure Fund.”

The EA and district council are currently finalising their outline business case for the barrier, which will then be scrutinised by Defra and the Treasury.

Mr Hohl added that the EA had completed the purchase of Heron Court within the Express Park, and was continuing to negotiating with landowners in order to finalise the proposals for downstream flood prevention.

SRA members will be provided with a further update coming to the next board meeting, which will be held in Shepton Mallet in December.