A £6 MILLION scheme to help prevent flooding in Taunton has moved a step closer.

Somerset Council and the Environment Agency are set to begin work on a flood alleviation project to protect homes and businesses in the county town.

The work – which will see reinforced concrete flood walls built on key sections of bank – will improve flood defences along two stretches of the River Tone in the North Town area.

It aims to increase protection for hundreds of homes, as well as reduced flood risk to key sections of the A3027, including Bridge Street, Staplegrove Road and Station Road.

The work will also protect both the Greenbrook Terrace and Wood Street regeneration sites and enable continued redevelopment of Firepool.

This week, Somerset Council’s Executive reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to the project.

Work began on the scheme prior to the formation of the new council in 2023, a partnership between the former district and county council and the Environment Agency.

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Now, the Executive has rubberstamped this phase of the scheme and the hope is that work, which will see a reinforced concrete flood wall built on key sections of the left bank of the River Tone, can start in 2026.

The concrete will be finished with brick to fit in with homes and design of the existing flood protection in the local area.

The scheme is entirely funded by external sources, including Defra, the Somerset Rivers Authority and Homes England.

Councillor Graham Oakes (Lib Dem, Yeovil East), the council’s lead member for public health, climate change and environment, said: “This is an incredibly important phase in in Taunton’s flood defence programme and it is great news for these residents, businesses and essential services that we are now much closer to putting a spade in the ground.

“We estimate that a flood event could cost the local economy up to £50 million, so that underlines how crucial this initiative is.

“You can put a price on the damage but you cannot put a price on the distress and disruption flooding causes to people’s lives. That’s why it is vital we get this work done.”

Further design work will be undertaken in the coming months, leading up to a construction start date in the 2026/27 financial year.