A Freedom of Information request has revealed that the Environment Agency has withdrawn maintenance funding from rivers that protect homes, farmland and main roads across West Somerset, weeks before the Government is due to publish its flood funding figures.
The Agency's own records, released under the Environmental Information Regulations, show that routine maintenance on the River Avill, the River Aller, Horner Water and the Washford River has been run down over several years. On most of these rivers the last routine weed control was carried out in 2022. Spending on the Washford River has fallen by around 90 per cent since 2016. The Agency has since written to residents confirming it intends to stop work on the Washford, the Traphole Stream and other West Somerset watercourses, citing a lack of funding.
The cuts fall on rivers the Agency itself flags as a flood risk. The Washford River from Roadwater to Watchet is a designated flood warning area, covering homes on Mill Street and Market Street in Watchet and Abbey Road in Washford. Horner Water, the Aller and the Washford sit within the Agency's West Somerset Streams flood alert area.
The Environment Agency holds no legal duty to maintain main rivers. It acts under permissive powers, which means that when it withdraws, responsibility passes by law to individual landowners, who cannot clear and maintain miles of main river alone.
The consequences reach beyond immediate residents. In 2023, flooding closed both the A39 and the A396, with drain covers in Minehead blown off by the volume of water and the towns of Carhampton, Dunster, Withycombe and Watchet hit. In June the Government announced £50 million for Somerset after storms and record rainfall.
Defra is due to publish its flood funding allocation on 15 July. A local campaign is urging residents to sign an open letter before that date, demanding the figures restore funding to West Somerset's rivers. Watchet town councillors are running a campaign against the cuts.
James Wright an Exmoor farmer and campaigner, said: "My Freedom of Information reveals that funding has been pulled, river by river. On 15th of July the Government sets its flood budget. Before they do, I want every household in West Somerset to put their name to one simple demand. Fund our rivers.
"When these rivers silt up, the water floods the A39 and shuts the road we all rely on. Pennies were saved and then £50 million had to be found after the flood. Prevention is cheaper than rescue. Sign the letter, and let them open the books on 15 July knowing exactly what this community expects."
Residents can sign the open letter at https://www.james-wright.org.uk/news/secure-funding-west-somersets-rivers
