PLANS by the Government to spend £15.5million on a flood defence plan for Somerset have been described as “old money” that could have prevented flooding on the Levels in the first place.

The Government announced this week that 7,000 properties across the county will benefit from its scheme with £4.2million being spent on protecting the Levels and Moors alone.

But, while welcoming the investment – part of a £2.3billion UK scheme – Jim Winkworth, a spokesman for FLAG (Flooding on the Levels Action group) described it as “money that should have been spent years ago”.

“The last time they carried out dredging was in 1985 when they spent £1.2million,” he explained.

“This £15million is just the money they saved when they stopped the dredging and, while we welcome it now being used, it is a shame they didn’t keep dredging and doing other work which would have prevented the flooding in the first place.

“It is a step in the right direction, which is to be welcomed.

“However, what we’d like to see is an outline of a proper maintenance plan for dredging and we hope some of that £4.2million could be put to use for that.”

Ministers announced a total of £55million will be spent on the Levels and Moors Flood Action Plan over the next 20 years.

Work on the Parrett Estuary at Cannington Bends will protect 1,257 properties in the surrounding areas from the risk of flooding with funds also earmarked for an appraisal scheme development and design for a Bridgwater Barrier over the next six years.

Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell- Grainger told the Mercury he was “relieved and gratified” by the funding commitments announced by the Government.

He said: “The fact that we have achieved cross-party support for a comprehensive spending package indicates quite clearly how seriously the Somerset situation is regarded.

“We have moved on a very long way from the darkest days when the Environment Agency was effectively shrugging its shoulders and suggesting there was not a lot that could be done to alleviate the flood threat.

“We have already shown there is at least one partial solution – by restarting the dredging which was so woefully neglected for almost 20 years and the lack of which undoubtedly contributed to the severity and duration of the floods of the last two winters.”

Sedgemoor District Council leader Cllr Duncan McGinty said: “When David Cameron visited us he said that money was no object and I am heartened that these were not empty promises.

“It demonstrates the public commitment by the Government to the people of the Levels and Moors.

“We have not let the grass grow under our feet during the summer and we have assessed, reviewed and updated all the expert advice and knowledge and have a preferred option for the barrier.”

Jim Winkworth said dredging carried out since the floods meant Burrowbridge residents were more relaxed when heavy rain was forecast.

“We had a very wet October and, while the water rose up to the bridge, the dredging meant it didn’t come over.

“There needs to be more dredging where the Tone meets the Parrett and a proper maintenance programme set out for the future.”

Mr Winkworth said the ultimate solution would be building a barrage on the River Severn although it had been estimated at some £900m.