This will set out the council’s objectives and actions for the next 10 years to make communities across the area more resilient to surface water flooding, sometimes known as flash flooding. Parts of the strategy also cover broader flood risks, such as flooding from the sea and large rivers.
The responses received from the consultation will help shape an updated strategy to guide future investment and help North Somerset to become more flood resilient. The document is due to be considered by the council’s Executive in June 2023.
Find out more and take part in the consultation by noon on Thursday 6 April online at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/floodriskconsultation.
Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member for neighbourhoods and community services, said: “The serious impact of global warming is already evident. As a council, we recognise that urgent action is needed to avoid temperatures increasing to dangerous levels, which would bring extreme weather, rising sea levels and increased flooding.
“As well as working hard to tackle the climate emergency, we’re committed to building a flood resilient North Somerset. I encourage people to get involved and tell us what they think of our new strategy. Their views are crucial to helping us shape this important plan using voices from within communities across the area so that we can help North Somerset to be ready to respond and adapt to flooding.”
Over the last eight years, the council has invested over £3.2m in large schemes to reduce flood risk in Wrington and Weston-super-Mare (Summer Lane). It spends over £1m a year to maintain road drainage and flood defences. It is also starting to use new techniques such as natural flood management and property level flood resilience to reduce flood risk in North Somerset.
People are encouraged to make the council aware after their home or business floods by reporting it online at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/reportingaflood. If a flood is life threatening, always call 999.
North Somerset Council maintains around 44,000 highway gullies on public land, as well as their connections to the drainage system along roads. Road drainage problems can be reported online at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/drainage.