A £50,000 contribution will be pumped into a dredging scheme for the Rivers Tone and Parrett under Taunton Deane Borough Council’s annual budget proposals unveiled yesterday.
Leader, Councillor John Williams , said the Council is aware that extreme flooding over the past two years have had a huge impact on the community, and is pledging to contribute £50,000 towards dredging that will help to mitigate the severity of potential flooding. The proposal would need to be ratified by Full Council.
“ The floods we are experiencing this year are devastating for so many who live and work on the Levels and Moors – it is the second time in 18 months that people have suffered extreme flooding .
“ We do need to work with other partners to try to find a long-term solution to the extreme events we are experiencing now .
“ We recognise how terrible the situation is and to make our contribution to dredging the Rivers Tone and Parrett. Action rather than reports is what we need. ”
The contribution would be funded from a proposed 2% increase in Taunton Deane’s share of the Council Tax which would increase the average Band D bill by 5p a week – up from £2.59 to £2.64.
The increase is subject to a Government announcement on tax increase limits.
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Press Release, January 29, 2014