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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to construct the River Parrett Barrier near Bridgewater to help protect the Somerset Levels from further flooding.

The main purpose of constructing a tidal surge barrier on the River Parrett would be to protect Bridgwater from tidal flooding. This would provide some benefit to the Somerset Levels and Moors because pumping would be able to continue at the peaks of the very highest tides should they coincide with a fluvial flood event.

A tidal surge barrier was originally planned for delivery between 2030 and 2050 as described in Sedgemoor District Council’s Core Strategy.

The 20-year Somerset Levels and Moors Action Plan identified potential benefits of accelerating this delivery. Subject to the availability of finance and the required consents being granted, experience from similar projects suggests it would be feasible to complete construction of the barrier within eight years.