More homes likely to flood, council warns

Council leaders have warned more homes are likely to flood in Somerset with more heavy rain forecast for the end of the week.

Somerset Council declared a major incident on Tuesday after the county saw the wettest week since 2014, and flooding closed numerous roads and rail lines, as well as many schools and businesses.

An estimated 50 properties in the county have flooded, and the figure is expected to rise despite a drier day expected.

Council leader Bill Revans said: "We are also looking into ensuring further properties don't flood although we do expect that number to rise beyond the 50 currently."

He added: "We are of course very worried, that's why we have declared this major incident."

The risk of flooding on the Somerset Levels and the moors is particularly high due to the volume of rainwater already in the system, according to the Environment Agency (EA).

Speaking to BBC Somerset, Revans said: "First of all we want to prevent [further flooding] where possible, but also we've got support in place for those residents that are impacted and may have to evacuate."

A number of Taunton residents whose homes flooded said blocked drains were to blame for the system's inability to cope with the volume of rainfall.

"Whether councils can keep their drains clear, there's a broader issue of whether we can get that proactive cleaning in place - we wish we were in a position to do so," Revans said.

He added that the council would support those who needed it with making insurance claims.

Revans urged anyone whose home has flooded to contact the council, as it is thought many do not seek help.

The EA issued 16 flood warnings for the county overnight, although this had fallen to 11 by mid-morning on Wednesday.

Eight schools are also still closed and a number of roads remain impassable, including parts of the A303 and several stretches of the A361.

Sections of the B3153, the A38 and A359 remain shut, with a full list available on Travel Somerset's social media pages.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning covering most of Somerset from 12:00 GMT on Thursday until midnight.

Council staff will be on hand at Moorland village hall between 10:00 and 16:00 on Wednesday to offer advice.

Jordan Priddle, from Ilminster, saw his home flooded a year and a day since it last did - despite spending and thousands on flood defences.

"It was quite traumatic reliving it a second time," he said.

Priddle estimates that since last year, he has spent between £35,000 and £40,000 on flood barriers and flood doors to try and protect his property, only for the water to get in via a manhole cover in the garden.

"We spent a lot of money and it almost worked out for us," Priddle said.

He added: "The ditch opposite is designed to carry a lot of the water that comes off the field away but that's just been blocked for years. I think the pipework is at about 10% capacity, plus it just full up with debris."

Last time the property flooded, it took five months for it to be habitable again and Priddle fears it will be the same this time.

"We are going to need all the floors doing, the walls re-plastering and the skirting boards etc. We're going to have to go and live somewhere else."

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