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Next step for Bridgwater Tidal Barrier

The £100m Bridgwater Tidal Barrier – designed to protect some 13,000 homes and businesses from tidal flooding – is one step nearer.  The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), George Eustice, approved the Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO), which was submitted in December 2019 and grants powers to construct and operate the barrier.

  • The tidal barrier, a partnership project between the Environment Agency and Sedgemoor District Council, will feature two moveable gates on the River Parrett between Express Park and Chilton Trinity in Bridgwater.
  • In addition, new flood defence embankments and improvements to existing embankments will be constructed on the River Parrett downstream of the barrier.
  • New eel and fish passes will be installed at up to 12 sites upstream on the rivers Parrett and Tone.

Rachel Burden, Wessex Flood and Coastal Risk Manager at the Environment Agency said, “This is a significant milestone for one of the biggest flood defence schemes in the country. This decision gives real confidence that the barrier is well on the way to be delivered and will help the town of Bridgwater and surrounding areas be ready for, and resilient to, flooding and coastal change – today, tomorrow and past the year 2100.”

Cllr Duncan McGinty, Leader of Sedgemoor District Council said, “All partners have been working for many years on the preparations for this major engineering project and we are delighted that we are now one step closer to start of construction.”

Cllr David Hall, Chair of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA), said: “This is great news. Before Somerset’s 20 Year Flood Action Plan was drawn up during the floods of 2014, the expected date for a Barrier in Bridgwater was 2046. The Flood Action Plan called for faster delivery by 2024. To help achieve that, the SRA has so far contributed £2.3million, including £2million of Growth Deal funding from the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership. It’s fantastic to see such a big, important project moving ahead.”

The go-ahead for the barrage is hugely exciting news, says Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger. And he has praised the teamwork which has finally brought the project to fruition.  “The barrage has been occupying the skills and abilities of a great many people since it was first mooted in the wake of the disastrous floods in 2014,” he said.

“It is obviously a highly complex scheme and quite understandably concerns about its potential impact have been raised in some quarters.  But those concerns have been taken into account as have the many, many messages of support for the barrage that have been received.”

“I have been greatly impressed with the way all the agencies involved have co-operated as a team in driving forward a project which is going to protect Bridgwater and the local area for many, many years to come. I admire their energy and their enthusiasm – and their determination to formulate a response to the ever-present threat of flooding.

“The barrage will help to reduce that threat well into the foreseeable future and I know its construction will be very warmly welcomed by thousands of local families.”

Over the next eighteen months the detailed technical design of the scheme will be developed and further topographic, ecology surveys and ground investigations will be carried out.  It is hoped that the construction site will be set up in late 2022, to allow for construction to start in early 2023 after various approvals and consents are granted. 

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Financial Risk Management Policy - March 2023

Grant Application Kings Coronation Form

The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III will take place on Saturday 6th May 2023, with an additional bank holiday on Monday 8th May 2023.

We are keen to hear from groups/organisations in Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge that are looking to celebrate the Coronation. The Town Council has £1500 available to allocate to events being organised to celebrate the Kings Coronation. The maximum grant to be allocated per event will be £500.

You must meet the following criteria for your application to be considered:

– The event will be open to all members of the public

– The event will be free of charge

– The event will take place within the Coronation weekend

– The event will take place within Burnham on Sea or Highbridge

 

Applications will close on Monday 6th March at midday. 

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What happens next....
Applications will be considered at the Finance and Resources Committee Meeting on Monday 13th March 2023. You will be notified after this date whether your application has been successful.
Burnham & Highbridge Town Council takes your privacy seriously and will only use your personal information for the purposes of contacting you about this grant. The Council’s privacy notice can be found here.

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