Sedgemoor floods spark emergency talks (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Sedgemoor floods spark emergency talks

1:30pm Wednesday 28th November 2012 in Bridgwater Area News

Flooding at Hamp Canal.

COUNCIL officials have held emergency talks with the Environment Agency to assess the damage left by the deluge of rain across Sedgemoor.

The heavens opened on Wednesday and continued on and off until the early hours of Monday (November 26), flooding homes and businesses and causing motorists to abandon their vehicles.

An Agency spokesman said a meeting will be held on tomorrow (November 29) with Taunton Deane and Sedgemoor District Councils, Somerset County Council, Somerset Drainage Board, land owners, the NFU and others.

He said: “Some of the things discussed will be the management of flood waters and flood plans.”

SDC staff have being working to reduce the impact on Sedgemoor residents and property, and multi- agency emergency meetings are being held regularly to respond to local forecasts.

A SDC spokesman said: “Strategic housing staff continue to be on-standby in case emergency evacuations are required in the district – concerned residents can get in touch on 0845-4082540.”

Bridgwater Town Council clerk Alan Hurford said the low level land on the Meads has flooded with Bridgwater football ground, Fordgate, Cannington, Stawell, Moorland and other areas.

He said: “The rain has had an effect on land already sodden.”

The county council donated thousands of man hours, put up hundreds of barriers and cones, helped dozens of motorists and even had to make more flood warning signs.

Deputy leader David Hall said: “Our staff and contractors have freally got stuck in helping keep Somerset moving despite the extraordinary conditions over the past week.”

Workers have even stood in a fast-flowing river removing branches wedged against a bridge which threatened to flood homes, have waded through filthy water to help residents and have arranged for stranded motorists to stay in local pubs.