Flood defence projects across Somerset have been boosted by £200,000 of funding from Conservative-controlled Somerset County Council’s Flood Mitigation Fund.
The funding was awarded to 34 individual projects which will manage the risk of flooding to nearly 200 properties in the county, including homes, businesses and a village hall.
Successful applications ranged from relatively small scale projects such as £500 to improve drainage in Yarde, West Somerset, to larger ones such as £25,000 to the Cannington Flood Defence scheme that will benefit 56 properties.
Deputy Leader of Somerset County Council, Cllr David Hall said: “This funding will help to protect properties across Somerset against the potentially devastating effects of flooding.
“I’d like to thank the 100 or so individuals and communities that submitted applications. We have had a rigorous exercise to select the 34 projects that we felt were most deserving and we are delighted to be able to support so many flood defence projects across the county.
“This adds to our wide range of efforts to help our communities fight against the effects of flooding, such as the £300,000 we’ve agreed to provide for dredging and the £50,000 we provided to help victims of floods earlier in the year.”
Applications were considered on their merits regardless of their location with a number of factors being considered when allocating the funding. Projects which had the promise of match-funding, or contributions in kind were prioritised. Cases where individual hardship was identified, and others supported by the local Parish Council, were also given priority to make sure the fund provides maximum benefits.