Campaign launches to raise flood awareness in Weston-super-Mare
The Environment Agency are launching a series of drop-ins
Last updated 15th Jan 2024
The Environment Agency have launched a campaign to raise flood awareness in Weston-Super-Mare - through a series of drop-in events.
They'll be held over the next couple of months, and help locals understand how to prepare for flooding and where to access support.
Over 27,000 properties in the region are at risk, according to their stats.
The campaign will focus on the wards of Central, Hillside, South Ward, Winterstoke, Uphill, Milton, Mid Worle, North Worle and South Worle.
Kewstoke (including Sand Bay) is also included.
Despite these communities not experiencing significant levels of flooding in recent years, residents are encouraged to come and speak with specialists from the Environment Agency and North Somerset Council about flooding and actions they can take to prepare and protect themselves.
The lack of flooding impacting the region is due in large part to the network of embankments, sand dunes and flood walls protecting the town, however, the recent devastation caused by Storms Babet, Ciaran and Henk have shown the devastating impacting it can cause.
Ron Curtis, Environment Agency Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for Wessex, said: “Fortunately, most of our communities in Weston-super-Mare have not experienced significant flooding in recent years. Nonetheless, Weston has flooded before and is still at risk.
“The aim of our campaign is to raise awareness and increase preparedness for potential flooding across the region. It is important that communities like Weston, with a limited history of flooding but a very real flood risk, are supported to recognise that risk and prepare for its potential impacts.
“In partnership with North Somerset Council, we are encouraging residents to create a personal flood action plan, to sign up for flood warnings and to attend our free information drop-in events, where they can learn more about their flood risk from local experts from the Environment Agency and the council.”
Councillor Annemieke Waite, North Somerset Council’s executive member for climate, waste and sustainability, said: “The serious impact of global warming is already evident. As a council, we recognise that urgent action is needed to avoid temperatures increasing to dangerous levels, which would bring extreme weather, rising sea levels and increased flooding.
“As well as working hard to tackle the climate emergency, we’re committed to building a flood resilient North Somerset. I encourage the residents of Weston-super-Mare to get involved with this Environment Agency campaign and attend one of their events to find out more. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the Environment Agency for choosing Weston as an area of focus as part of its national campaign. It’s really important for people to be aware of their flood risk and what they should do to prepare for flooding.”
Residents are encouraged to come along to the free drop-in events hosted by the Environment Agency and North Somerset Council throughout January and February:
- Friday 19 January, 10am-1pm – For All Healthy Living Centre, BS23 3SJ
- Thursday 25 January, 12.30pm-3.30pm – Town Hall Library, BS23 1UJ
- Saturday 27 January, 9am-12pm –Weston seafront (between Victorian Café and Beach Café), BS23 1BE
- Monday 29 January, 2pm-6.30pm – Uphill Victory Hall, BS23 4XG
- Thursday 1 February, 7pm-8.30pm – Weston Museum, BS23 1PR
- Friday 2 February, 1pm-4pm – Co-op, Worle High Street, BS22 6HG
- Monday 5 February, 4.15pm-7pm – Kewstoke Village Hall, BS22 9XB
- Tuesday 6 February, 11.30am-2.30pm – The Sovereign, BS23 1HL
Over the last eight years, North Somerset Council has invested over £3.2m in large schemes to reduce flood risk in Wrington and Weston-super-Mare.
It spends over £1m a year to maintain road drainage and flood defences and is also starting to use new techniques such as natural flood management and property level flood resilience to reduce flood risk in North Somerset.
More information about flooding in North Somerset can be found on the council’s website.