VITAL improvements to a major Somerset river won’t begin for at least another year, according to the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA).

The SRA was created in 2015, in the aftermath of the disastrous floods of 2013/14, bringing together different partners to deliver additional flood prevention schemes on top of those carried out by Somerset Council or the Environment Agency (EA).

Since its foundation, the SRA has overseen numerous improvements to the River Parrett and River Tone catchment areas, including several rounds of dredging and upgrades to the River Sowy and King’s Sedgemoor Drain.

But obtaining a consensus on improvements to the River Brue has proved evasive for years, with £279,000 of funding going unspent in July 2021 after the details of an improvement scheme could not be agreed.

The SRA board completed detailed modelling of the river in early-February 2024, with a dozen potential improvement schemes for different areas of the river catchment being identified.

But the SRA has warned that further studies will be needed before any groundwork can begin – meaning residents won’t see any tangible benefits until at least the 2026/27 financial year.

The River Brue begins in Brewham near Bruton and flows over the Somerset Levels, separating Glastonbury and Street, before reaching the sea at Highbridge.

Following the modelling studies by the Somerset Drainage Board Consortium (SDBC – which has its headquarters in Highbridge), around £170,000 of this funding remains available for further studies or preparatory work.

Working with consultancy firm WSP, Somerset Council has produced a list of 12 schemes which could deliver improvements along the length of the River Brue, which will now be taken forward for further investigation.

One in 100 years flooding event model for the River Brue (Graphic: Somerset Rivers Authority)
One in 100 years flooding event model for the River Brue (Graphic: Somerset Rivers Authority) (One in 100 years flooding event model for the River Brue (Graphic: Somerset Rivers Authority))

The 12 schemes comprise of the following:

  1. Removing silt upstream of Bason Bridge and the Hackness sluice (east of the M5 near Highbridge)
  2. Conveyancing improvements on the lower River Brue (increasing the flow of water downstream)
  3. Improvements to the Highbridge Clyce (which prevents water from flowing upstream into the town at high tides)
  4. Enhancing the River Brue banks (removing silt and obstructive vegetation)
  5. Assessing ‘slow the flow’ schemes in the upstream catchment (which are designed to reduce surface run-off and thereby minimise localised flooding)
  6. Conveyancing improvements on the mid River Brue (improving the flow of water around Glastonbury and Street)
  7. Enhancing the Glastonbury Millstream (which runs out towards Meare)
  8. Repairing damage to the Decoy Rhyne (which links the River Sheppey to the River Brue)
  9. Improving the North Drain (which conveys water across the Somerset Levels south of Wedmore)
  10. Increasing the capacity of the Huntspill River (which runs north of the Gravity enterprise zone)
  11. Improving Clyce Hole near Glastonbury (also known as Prior’s Weir, where the River Brue steeply drops and the Glastonbury Millstream begins)
  12. Enhancing the Cripps River (which links the River Brue and the Huntspill River near East Huntspill)

Sean Papworth, lead officer for resilience and adaptation at Somerset Council, said this further modelling work would be completed by August, with the first six schemes being prioritised.

He said in his written report: “The full findings will be shared and presented at the earliest opportunity in the summer.

“The ideal scenario is that those viable recommendations will be put forward for inclusion in the SRA’s 2026/27 enhanced programme.”

Iain Sturdy, from the SDBC, added: “Once we have this clarity, there are a whole host of other things that will need to be discussed with partners and regulators, to ensure we have a set of projects which are (a) worth doing and (b) won’t having unintended consequences.”

Bill Smart, who sits on Wedmore Parish Council, lamented the lack of progress to date, stating the River Brue proposals were “disappointing in their aspirations, background and lack of urgency.”

One in two years flooding event model for the River Brue (Graphic: Somerset Rivers Authority)
One in two years flooding event model for the River Brue ((Graphic: Somerset Rivers Authority))

He added: “The suggestion that this issue has been ongoing for ‘several’ years is mendacious, when it is now entering its 11th year.

“The computer modelling is forecast to take a further eight months. It is not until 2026/27 that any ground work may commence, and that is described as an ideal scenario.

“It seems incredible that any public body can entertain with equanimity such a lethargic approach.

“The principal culprit in this sorry situation is the Environment Agency who, despite having a stated priority to increase the resilience of people, property and businesses to the risks of flooding, decline to undertake channel capacity maintenance of the Brue.

“Dredging a river is not rocket science, but I’m sure Elon Musk is counting his lucky stars that he didn’t involve the SRA in his SpaceX endeavours.”

SRA board vice-chairman Tony Bradford was also critical of the time-scales involved, stating: “Surely reinstating the river to its design capacity has to be the way forward – the more water you can send downstream, the less flood risk you have.

“I feel with these schemes, we’re putting the cart before the horse. We should get on and do the river, and then sort the rest out later.

“It’s all about drainage, and we’re making this all too complicated and too time-consuming. I think it’s a very sad situation.”

Councillor Mike Stanton, who chairs the SRA board, said he shared these frustrations but emphasised the complexity of the River Brue improvements.

He said: “I think we’re all pretty dissatisfied with the slow pace of progress.

“I think the Elon Musk comparison is a particularly bad one – if you send up a rocket into space with no-one in it, and it blows up, nobody is hurt.

“This is a lot more complicated, and if we do piecemeal work there are always consequences – we cannot do work on improving one bit of the river if it’s going to increase flooding for someone else.”

SRA advisor John Rowlands added: “It’s challenging to deliver anything on the Somerset Levels and Moors. A huge amount has been happening, but it has not resulted in the delivery of works.

“Any action has a reaction, and before we take that action we need to understand what that reaction is, hence all the modelling.

“We have to be 100 per cent sure that what is proposed will not provide detriment elsewhere – otherwise that opens up a whole kettle of fish.”