Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the causes of recent flooding in West Dorset constituency.

The recent flooding in West Dorset was caused by a combination of exceptionally high rainfall totals, leading to saturated ground conditions. January was the second-wettest winter on record since 1871. Groundwater levels across the county rose significantly, leading to flooding of low-lying land, roads and some properties as the water table exceeded normal winter levels.

When significant flooding occurs Dorset Council produce Section 19 flood reports investigating the flooding issues experienced. The Environment Agency (EA) will provide information and evidence for these reports, including assessment of impacts on its assets. When there are impacts, the EA will undertake work to restore them to required condition as soon as possible.

The EA is working with Dorset Council, including the Dorset Rural Runoff project, to improve understanding of the causes of flooding and look for potential interventions to reduce the impacts of this type of flood event.