Dates for the diary:
NEWS ITEMS
A303. For an update on changing traffic flows see A303 Update
Section 19 – Flood Investigation Community Meeting Wednesday 24th July 2024
There were 2 parts to the day – the first part was to meet with Paul Ellison (SRA Community Engagement Officer) and Anna Meares (Somerset Council Flood Investigation Officer).
During the first part, a few members of the West Camel and Urgashay community came together to explain what the events looked liked last May. It also allowed us to walk Paul & Anna around the whole village so they could visualise and record what we explained.
The second part was an open meeting at The Davi’s Hall. This was reasonably well attended and gave Paul & Anna the opportunity to cover the following key points –
* Explanation of what a Section 19 report is – in essence it provides a record and evidence of the flooding event. A Section 19 report is triggered when 10 or more properties (domestic or commercial) suffer internal flooding in the same event. The report also summarise key learnings, investigates possible causes and lists some recommendations for authorities and communities to consider and possibly implement.
* Anna explained there has been a delay for a few reasons. She wasn’t in the role when it happened and has joined to help clear the backlog of reports required dating back as far as 2021 across Somerset. Things are getting back on track now.
* Timeline for the report. July 24th was our day. There are several other events like this in other affected communities and also meetings with professional bodies. The report will be published in December 2024.
* We were then presented with their summary of what happened, where the water came from and shared some feedback they had received through other reports in the run up to our meeting. During the presentation they asked and checked to make sure their understanding was accurate and with the help of the people in attendance and using their experience – some points were amended to reflect things more accurately.
* There was also a section where they asked what could be done in the future to prevent a similar event and also to look at our readiness for such an. event and what support may look like in the future. All of this will be in included in the report.
There was ample opportunity for those in attendance to question, challenge and add things and Paul and Anna did make notes.
It was also requested that any photographs / videos, that the community have, be emailed to them so they can catalogue and select any that helps support the content of the investigation and visually shows what happened and when.
The email address for this and other flood related topics for us all to use is – flooding@somerset.gov.uk there is also a website which lots of people at the meeting hadn’t heard of and that is https://swim.geowessex.com/somerset which is the Flood Online Reporting Tool. That website and email address would be good ones for us all to note and keep.
We will keep you all in the loop as and when more information becomes available to us.
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