5.2.4 Flood Policy Developments in Somerset Since
the Floods of 2013/2014
Although this book and project are focused on drought governance and resilience,
the flooding events that occurred in Somerset across 2012–2014 have significantly
influenced the long-term water management futures of the Somerset region. Thus, it
is also useful to overview the developments to flood policy and how they have
influenced adaptation actions towards drought and water scarcity governance.
The flooding in 2013–2014 included the flooding of the Parrett and the Tone
catchments. It was the largest flood event known to have occurred in the region in
the last 250 years with the army being deployed to assist during the crisis (BBC
2014; Environment Agency 2015b; see also Fig. 5.2). The floods became a hot
political topic during the immediate crisis and recovery, with national and European
media presence covering the contested and strongly debated causes, and solutions,
to the problem. Thorne (2014) reflected how the 2013/2014 floods were socially
divisive, with our own research during the period of flooding recovery highlighting
the de-legitimisation of various stakeholders involved in water management
throughout these public debates. It can be argued that the flood event obscured
some options for recovery and future adaptation and entrenched others (Browne
2014; Butler and Walker-Springett 2015). The flood event also offered an opportunity for improving resilience, resistance and relations between the public, various
regional stakeholders and other water practitioners (Butler and Walker-Springett
2015). The policy developments that emerged as a result of these flood events need
to be viewed in the context of the divisive and contested nature of the flood
recovery process, throughout which there was a series of social and political
struggles to maintain a more or less balanced policy response.
The EA, whose funding and investment decisions are based on national
assessment and cost benefit analysis, is currently the main provider of flood risk
management activities. After the flood event of 2013/14, the 20 Year Flood Action
Plan was developed to achieve a long-term vision for the area to reduce the extent
and impact of flooding (Cameron 2014). The plan includes works being done to
repair flood defences in the region, build new flood defences and enhance the
capacity of various drains in the region to reduce the risk, depth and duration of any
floods in the future (Environment Agency 2015b). It also identified dredging around
the Levels and Moors to reduce flood risks (Environment Agency 2014), creating
new banks, increasing pumping capacity and additional maintenance activities such
as weed control (Environment Agency 2015b). The implementation of the 20 Year
Flood Action Plan is being spearheaded by FWAG SW (a sub-partner on the DROP
project).
The Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) is a key part of the 20 Year Flood Action
Plan. The SRA will bring together the Flood Risk Management Authorities (the
EA, the Internal Drainage Boards, the Lead Local Flood Authority (SCC) and the
other Somerset local authorities), to provide a strategic overview of the continued
delivery of the Flood Action Plan, and to develop, agree and publish a Common
5 Governing for Drought and Water Scarcity …
91
the Floods of 2013/2014
Although this book and project are focused on drought governance and resilience,
the flooding events that occurred in Somerset across 2012–2014 have significantly
influenced the long-term water management futures of the Somerset region. Thus, it
is also useful to overview the developments to flood policy and how they have
influenced adaptation actions towards drought and water scarcity governance.
The flooding in 2013–2014 included the flooding of the Parrett and the Tone
catchments. It was the largest flood event known to have occurred in the region in
the last 250 years with the army being deployed to assist during the crisis (BBC
2014; Environment Agency 2015b; see also Fig. 5.2). The floods became a hot
political topic during the immediate crisis and recovery, with national and European
media presence covering the contested and strongly debated causes, and solutions,
to the problem. Thorne (2014) reflected how the 2013/2014 floods were socially
divisive, with our own research during the period of flooding recovery highlighting
the de-legitimisation of various stakeholders involved in water management
throughout these public debates. It can be argued that the flood event obscured
some options for recovery and future adaptation and entrenched others (Browne
2014; Butler and Walker-Springett 2015). The flood event also offered an opportunity for improving resilience, resistance and relations between the public, various
regional stakeholders and other water practitioners (Butler and Walker-Springett
2015). The policy developments that emerged as a result of these flood events need
to be viewed in the context of the divisive and contested nature of the flood
recovery process, throughout which there was a series of social and political
struggles to maintain a more or less balanced policy response.
The EA, whose funding and investment decisions are based on national
assessment and cost benefit analysis, is currently the main provider of flood risk
management activities. After the flood event of 2013/14, the 20 Year Flood Action
Plan was developed to achieve a long-term vision for the area to reduce the extent
and impact of flooding (Cameron 2014). The plan includes works being done to
repair flood defences in the region, build new flood defences and enhance the
capacity of various drains in the region to reduce the risk, depth and duration of any
floods in the future (Environment Agency 2015b). It also identified dredging around
the Levels and Moors to reduce flood risks (Environment Agency 2014), creating
new banks, increasing pumping capacity and additional maintenance activities such
as weed control (Environment Agency 2015b). The implementation of the 20 Year
Flood Action Plan is being spearheaded by FWAG SW (a sub-partner on the DROP
project).
The Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) is a key part of the 20 Year Flood Action
Plan. The SRA will bring together the Flood Risk Management Authorities (the
EA, the Internal Drainage Boards, the Lead Local Flood Authority (SCC) and the
other Somerset local authorities), to provide a strategic overview of the continued
delivery of the Flood Action Plan, and to develop, agree and publish a Common
5 Governing for Drought and Water Scarcity …
91