New Environment Secretary visits Somerset
The new Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss made her first official visit to Somerset today to get an update on the progress of the work being done to alleviate flooding. She visited Burrowbridge to see the work going on to dredge the rivers Tone and Parrett.
She also had an informal meeting with leaders of the various agencies involved in delivering the 20 year Somerset Levels and Moors Flood Action Plan (FAP) where she was briefed on some of the key issues and barriers.
The Secretary of State was given a progress update on all aspects including the schemes at Beer Wall, Thorney Ring Bank, Muchelney, plans for increasing the capacity of the River Sowy. What she was not able to do of course, is meet the Somerset Rivers Board as it has still to be finalised. As this was for most
ordinary people the most essential part of the FAP the fact that it is still to be delivered is disappointing. However it appears no “ordinary” people were on hand to give Mrs Truss the benefit of their opinion. Which is, to put it mildly, something of a shame.