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Author: ParishClerk

Preparing for winter flooding

Preparing for winter flooding – guidance for residents and businesses

While drought conditions may have dominated headlines this year the focus is back on flooding preparedness as we head into the winter months.

Somerset councils have combined to offer the following advice and guidance to help residents and businesses reduce the impacts of flooding. We hope this can assist you when you are dealing with peoples’ concerns and queries over the coming months.

What can I do?

Thinking ahead and preparing for what the weather may bring especially at this time of year can make a real difference in your home, business and community.

One of the first things is to check is whether your property is at risk of flooding.

We also recommend taking precautionary measures and purchasing your own sandbags in case of flooding emergencies. If sandbags are not available, you can use:

  • rolled-up mats or carpets
  • bags of garden compost
  • pillow cases filled with soil (don’t overfill them)
  • timber boards (possibly screwed to door frames and sealed with mastic)

What to do during a flood

There is information to help you on what to do during a flood on the Somerset Prepared website.  The key point is to always stay safe, in an immediate flood emergency or where there is a risk to life, follow the advice of the emergency services.   

Protect yourself from future flooding

It is advisable to plan how you’ll respond to a flood. Information and plans are available to help you plan ahead.

We also encourage you to download the ‘Prepare. Act. Survive.’ flood plan to help reduce the impact of flooding.

You can find up to date information on flood warnings by visiting the flood warnings page on the Government’s website.

Flooding and roads – key information

It’s important to ensure drains and gullies are clear during the autumn and winter months – Somerset County Council as the Highways authority routinely inspects these but leaves and other debris can accumulate rapidly so members of the public have a key role to play.

If you spot a problem with a drain or gully, or any issue on the highway you can report it easily and quickly here –  Report a problem on the road (somerset.gov.uk).

Heavy rain and flooding present a clear and present danger to drivers – road users are urged NOT to attempt to drive across flooded roads as it is not possible to estimate the depth of the water reliably.

A number of Somerset roads have flood gates in place to prevent access in the event of flooding – information can be found here –  Emergency road closure gates – Travel Somerset.

It’s vital to prepare for wet conditions if you have to travel and to proceed with extreme caution if you get caught in flood conditions – you can find information and advice here: Adverse weather conditions (somersetroadsafety.org)

Road works affecting NDR Bridgwater 14.11 to 18.11.22

Saltlands Bridge (A39 Western Way)

Wessex Water Mains leak – One-way system required

Monday 14th Nov to Friday 18th Nov 2022   – 24/7 Restriction

Wessex Water require network occupation to attend to a mains water leak affecting the A39 Saltlands Bridge (A39 Western Way). The leak appears to be from a suspended water pipe beneath the bridge structure.

To allow Wessex Water to safely undertake the works a lane closure will be required as given the proximity to the signal controlled junction with The Drove, the use of portable traffic signals will not be suitable so a one way system will be put into place.

The bridge will be closed to westbound traffic only so to provide a safe working area for the Wessex Water team undertaking the works.

It is anticipated that these works may cause severe network congestion, particularly at peak hours as this route serves West Somerset and Hinkley Point, the signed diversion route for westbound traffic will via Monmouth Street, Broadway and Wembdon Road.

Urgent / emergency Road Closure: Wick Lane, Wick, Stogursey

Please be aware that we have received a notification of a TTRN (urgent / emergency) road closure at Wick Lane, Stogursey  will commence on 2nd November 2022 – 4th November 2022 (00:00 – 23:59).for a total of 3 days.

This will enable Wessex Water to carry out works to repair a customer leak.

The contractor has indicated that access for Emergency Services through the site  is not permitted on this occasion.

For any further information about this closure please contact Wessex Water on 0345 600 4600, quoting reference: ttro667622WS.

Please visit one.network  https://one.network/?tm=131489951 where you will see the map of the affected area (in red), together with the supplied diversion route (in blue).

Please note: this diversion route could be subject to change on review.

Raise Your Ride – Team set to make thousands safer on Somerset’s roads in 2022

Somerset County Council’s Road Safety Team are gearing up for a busy calendar this year delivering vital information and training to people of all ages.

In 2021 the team delivered courses, presentations, and educational programmes to 20,000 people across Somerset, covering all age groups – this despite face-to-face delivery only being deemed safe in May. Both older road users and Reception year children alike have taken positive road safety habits with them into the New Year.

The team assist in delivering the nationally popular bicycle awareness course Bikeability across the county’s primary schools. Last year over 1,800 year 5 and year 6 students have taken the 2-day course as part of their curriculum and subsequently gained confidence and advice on riding their bikes safely – 2022 will see thousands more gain crucial cycling proficiency.

The good work has continued in schools with over 10,000 children receiving the team’s Stay Safe presentations, which clearly describe how they should use crossings, ensure car drivers can see them in the dark and much, much more.

Councillor John Woodman, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways said: “There is no time like the present to improve your road safety knowledge.

“We are fortunate that our team are outstanding at what they do; they make our roads safer day in day out and teach everyone something. I recommend getting in touch and seeing what they can offer you.”

Avon and Somerset Police have also collaborated with the team on a new motorcycle training programme called Raise your Ride. The events ran last summer all over the South West with great success so there are five more planned for this summer. You can find out more about the content and how to sign up here, but for now here are the 2022 dates for the diary:

  • Taunton, Sunday 22 May
  • Yeovil, Sunday 19 June
  • Weston-super-Mare, Sunday 27 July
  • Bridgwater, Sunday 11 September

When Raise your Ride 2021 is combined with the other motorcycle-based interventions that the team delivered, the net audience of those totalled over 1,400. There is a large community of bikers in Somerset so the expertise of the team should be widely sought after!

The Road Safety Team has also launched a brand-new website, so make sure to check it out at www.somersetroadsafety.org for all the information you need. You can also follow the team on social media – search Somerset Road Safety on Facebook, @SCC_RoadSafety on Twitter and @somersetroadsafety on Instagram. Alternatively, the team can receive any enquiries from businesses or members of the public via email at roadsafety@somerset.gov.uk.

Grant scheme to help make homes more energy efficient extended 

A grant available to help Somerset people benefit from energy efficient installations worth up to £10,000 has been extended until June 2022.

Funded by the Government, the Green Homes Grant Scheme allows eligible homeowners to apply for vouchers to install climate-friendly energy saving measures such as insulation, air source heat pumps, or double glazing.

The work can be worth up to £10,000, with nothing for homeowners to pay towards the cost of the works.

Tenants of rented properties can also access grants of up to £5,000, but the landlord will be expected to contribute at least one third towards the costs of the works.

To be eligible for the grants, the residents of the property must have a low income (receive benefits or have a household income below £30,000 a year), and the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for the property must be rated D, E, F or G. If there is no EPC for your property you can still apply.

If you’re struggling to keep your home warm and you think you might be eligible for some help, you can submit an application at www.heatsomerset.co.uk .

If you are struggling to afford your energy bills or you are living in a cold home where the boiler or heating system isn’t working, you can also contact the Somerset Safe & Warm Helpline on 0800 082 2234.

 

The Green Homes Grant Scheme is just one of many projects and initiatives which will help Somerset towards its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

One example is Wells Cathedral where work is being undertaken to reduce the carbon footprint of the 850-year-old landmark. It is among the projects being showcased in a series of short films made by Somerset County Council and funded by the SW Energy Hub to highlight how communities are already doing amazing things to cut the carbon in Somerset. You can view the Wells Cathedral video here: Watch | Facebook.

SCC also recently launched a new climate emergency webpage. which includes a wealth of information to help Somerset work towards the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

The new website includes the latest news on tackling the climate emergency, information and tips for individuals and organisations on how they can reduce their carbon footprints, details on the action Somerset’s Local Authorities are taking, and much more. Visit Climate Emergency (somerset.gov.uk).