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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of flood mitigation measures installed on the course of the river Aller and its headwaters in Somerset.

The River Aller is a rapid response, rural catchment that has required a number of innovative flood mitigation measures to protect properties from rainfall running off the steep sided slopes of Exmoor.

Approximately 70 properties are at risk of flooding in or near the villages of Allerford and Bossington. The most recent flooding in 2000 impacted properties and the A39 road. The measures set out below have been effective in reducing the impact of flooding in a number of ways and no significant flood events or property flooding has occurred since they have been in place.

Natural flood management (NFM) storage bunds, woody debris dams and woodland planting has reduced the risk of high flows since it was completed in 2015.

Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures such as removable boards in doorways and air brick covers have been installed in 38 properties at risk of flooding in Allerford and Bossington that provide an effective defence to flooding up to 600mm.

The Environment Agency’s Flood Warning Service provides targeted and timely alerts and warnings to people about the likelihood and severity of any potential flooding. This then allows people to activate flood plans and install their PFR measures. A siren is also sounded to provide immediate warning that life threatening flooding is imminent.