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Search forTariff to fund flood barrier
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 00:00
A barrier on the River Parrett to help protect Bridgwater from future flooding will cost more than £25million and a tariff could help to provide finance to meet the high cost.
Sedgemoor District Council has mooted the idea and is now talking to the Environment Agency and other organisations on how it could be effective.
Doug Bamsey, Sedgemoor's corporate director, said: "We think we will be one of the first councils to raise money for a flood defence and are making the case to the Government."
He added: "The Environment Agency and ourselves have appointed consultants to look at the detailed specification of a barrier and where it might be and an estimate of the costs."
Bridgwater is at risk from tidal flooding but sea defences along the River Parrett are adequate, although they will need improving by 2030 at the latest.
The town is earmarked to expand with another 7,700 houses, 1,500 of which are on the low-lying land of the former Innovia site and Little Sydenham Farm.
For future housing developments to receive the go-ahead, they will need to have adequate flood protection for the next 100 years.
The Parrett Barrier is a scheme which could provide protection for the whole town and all the proposed development.
The results of technical work on a future barrier by the Environment Agency will be available before the end of the year and this will include engineering options, impacts, locations and costs.
The size of the tariff has not yet been fixed but money raised would be pooled until a Parret Barrier can be built.
The design would take about 10 years and to begin with money would be spent on design, with construction beginning in 2026.
The next step is for the council to seek views on the tariff from the Government Office of the South West, organisations, land owners and agents.
