The Environment Agency is set to spend £3.5 million to improve Bath’s flood defences and better protect more than 1,000 properties, it has been announced.
Photo © Andrew Harker / Shutterstock.com
Around 40 flood schemes across Wiltshire, Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire and Dorset will benefit from over £110 million of funding from the Government.
Following a commitment to invest £2.65 billion over two years towards the construction of new flood schemes and the repair and maintenance of existing ones, the Environment Agency has now revealed the communities which will benefit from projects this year.
The £3.5 million allocated for Bath will fund a scheme to replace Twerton Gate to manage the risk of failure and maintain river levels. It is expected to better protect 1,186 properties from the risk of flooding by the end of 2025/26.
The pair of sluice gates, which are around 40 years old, are situated on the River Avon.
In recent years, faults at the site on the Lower Bristol Road have caused river levels to drop dramatically, sometimes leading to boats sinking.
A number of narrowboats were stranded in 2020 after the water level dropped | Photo © Bath Echo
Caroline Douglass, Executive Director for Flood and Coastal Risk Management for the Environment Agency, said: “Protecting communities from the devastating impact of flooding is our priority.
“The delivery of the schemes in Wessex will be welcome news for homeowners and businesses, who have experienced flooding in the past and may face more extreme weather as our climate continues to change.
“Our focus is now on working with local councils and Regional Flood and Coastal Committees to deliver these schemes on time, ensuring as many properties as possible are protected.”
Floods Minister Emma Hardy said: “I know from firsthand experience the devastating impacts that flooding can cause.
“The role of Government is to protect its citizens. However, we inherited flood defences in their worst condition on record.
“Through our Plan for Change, we are supporting around 40 schemes in Wessex, ensuring residents have the long-term protection they need, while boosting local growth and creating new jobs.”
You can learn more about the Twerton Gate site in a video from 2021 here.
