MAJOR schemes to try and reduce the flood risk in Sedgemoor have been given the green light by Somerset County Council.

Six schemes, totalling £100,000, will be undertaken in the area to improve drainage, making it easier for the network to cope with severe weather and reducing the risk of flooding.

The schemes are being funded from a £10m grant from the Department for Transport to the County Council, following the flooding in the winter of 2013/14.

So far, £9m has been spent on various flood reduction schemes set out in the Levels and Moors 20 Year Flood Action Plan, including the raising of the road at Muchelney and installing culverts at Beer Wall on the A372.

The remaining money has now been allocated to other projects that reduce the likelihood and impact of flooding, including the schemes in Sedgemoor.

Councillor David Fothergill, Somerset County Council’s cabinet member for Highways, said: "It’s great to be able to give the go ahead to these schemes that will benefit the residents of Sedgemoor and beyond.

"We’ve been working really hard with partners to get the most out of the money granted by the DfT and this is the final stage of that.

"This work is all about improving drainage and the flow of water through the system to make it more able to deal with the kind of weather brought about the floods three years ago.”

"Obviously no-one could rule out future flooding, but works like these reduce its likelihood and the impact of any flooding that does happen."

The Sedgemoor schemes are:

• Marsh Lane at Cannington: Improvements to an outfall drain and repairs to a carrier drain.

• The old Cannington Bypass: Creating a larger headwall to allow more water to discharge from the new Cannington bypass.

• A38 Bristol Road, Bridgwater: Replace kerb gullies to allow better surface water collection.

• A39 Bath Road, Bridgwater: Replace kerb gullies to allow better surface water collection.

• A38 Bristol Road: Replace broken gullies.

The County Council also recently used £250,000 from the remaining DfT grant to fund the removal of a large lump of concrete under the Dunball Old Bridge to improve water flows in the King Sedgemoor Drain.