Flood alleviation projects advance in Taunton and Portreath

Flood alleviation projects are moving forward in Taunton and Portreath to mitigate risks from intense rainfall and climate change.

In Taunton, Somerset, enabling works for a £6 million flood defence project are scheduled to begin in mid-October. The partnership between Somerset Council and the Environment Agency aims to improve defences along the River Tone, specifically near Clarence Street and the former Poundstretcher site. The project is expected to protect hundreds of homes and businesses, as well as critical infrastructure, from flood events that could potentially cost the local economy up to £50 million. Main construction is slated for early next year.

In Cornwall, the Environment Agency has submitted planning applications for the Portreath Flood Alleviation Scheme. The plan seeks to protect the village, which faces high flood risks, by strengthening existing defences and upgrading the historic 1931 Portreath Tunnel. Because the village is in a rapid response catchment, water levels can rise within minutes. Proposed improvements include increasing stream channel capacity, replacing footbridges, and installing new flow control structures to manage floodwater more effectively.