Work has begun this week on a flood protection scheme for the village of Thorney on the Somerset Levels, one of the communities badly hit by winter floods.
It is part of the 20 Year Flood Action Plan (FAP) for Somerset, where county and district councils, the Environment Agency, the Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium and other partner and community organisations are working together on a number of schemes to help protect the area, including Thorney Ring Bank.
Costs of £180,000 have been agreed between Somerset County Council, the Parrett Internal Drainage Board, South Somerset District Council, with financial contributions also from Kingsbury Episcopi Parish Council and the local community.
Local residents have been in discussions with the Parrett Drainage Board about Thorney Ring Bank since the height of last winter’s flooding, and the work will be sited on private land.
Work to improve an existing second ring bank at Thorney, known as Thorney West Ring Bank, is also set to begin in late summer, on behalf of the Environment Agency.