Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding he has allocated for flood defence improvements in (a) Bothenhampton, (b) Bridport, (c) Maiden Newton, (d) Ryme Intrinseca, (e) Yetminster and (f) Chilfrome over the next five years.

As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, a record £2.65 billion will be invested over two years in building, maintaining and repairing flood defences, better protecting 52,000 properties by March 2026. Around 1,000 projects will receive funding in 24/25 and 25/26.

Investment in flood risk management schemes takes place where the risk is highest, wherever it is across the country. Each scheme is carefully considered to determine whether and how far it will benefit the most people and property.

An initial assessment of the flood defences in Bridport determined that maintenance of the existing defences is the most cost-effective option. Bridport remains on the pipeline programme to revisit in 10 years. Bothenhampton, Maiden Newton and Yetminster are not included in the current pipeline programme. However, these areas should see flood risk benefits at a catchment scale due to the influence of Natural Flood Management (NFM) projects in the area.

The Environment Agency (EA) is working with organisations such as the Dorset National Landscape Partnership to deliver a NFM project across the Brit catchment that will reduce flood risk to communities such as Beaminster. The River Brit project received a share of £25million in Government funding. In Maiden Newton, Dorset Wildlife Trust is gathering data on the impact of beavers to flood risk at Kingcombe Nature reserve at the headwaters of the Frome. At Yetminster, Yeovil Rivers Trust is installing NFM measures in the headwaters of the Wriggle to slow the flow and attenuate floodwater.

The EA is proposing to desilt the Maiden Newton Flood Alleviation Channel this year.