CHARD is set to benefit from funding worth £262,000 to try and help prevent devastating flooding.

South Somerset was hit hard by the severe winter storms in 2013 and 2014, with many areas completely under water.

Now, Somerset County Council has given the green light for four schemes in the region to combat the problem, making it easier for the network to cope with severe weather and reduce the risk of flooding.

This includes a major scheme in the heart of Chard, which is designed to stop flooding on A358 Old Town.

Cllr David Fothergill, county council member for Highways, said it was “great” the schemes had been given the go ahead.

Cllr Dave Bulmer, Mayor of Chard and South Somerset district councillor, has praised the scheme and said he thinks it will be beneficial for the town.

He said: “This is something I had involvement with in the past when there was significant flooding problems in the area of Halcombe, A358, Church Street, Old Town and into Silver Street and beyond into Millfield.

“At the time I followed back to the source of the problem.

“I identified that because of the topography of land around Chard being very hilly, there was a problem in addressing a significant amount of surface water during heavy and prolonged periods of rain.

“It was welcomed that the first phase was addressed during the 2015/16 financial year, however this did not address the source of the problem which was coming from the higher ground. Therefore it gives me a lot of reassurance that this is now going to be addressed with the new silt traps and additional carrier drainage.”

The project will see existing drainage systems for the designated area in Chard abandoned, with 100 to 150 metres of new carrier drain and gullies installed.

Two silt traps will also be installed across the full width of the carriageway to collect debris.

The schemes are being funded from a £10 million Department for Transport grant to the county council following the severe flooding in the winter of 2013/14.

“It is great to be giving the go ahead to these schemes that will benefit many residents and motorists,” said Councillor David Fothergill, the Somerset county council’s cabinet member for Highways.

“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 that brought about the floods three years ago. Obviously no one could rule out future flooding, but works like these reduce its likelihood and limit the impact of any flooding that does happen.”

The other schemes are for Bruton Road in East Coker, A372 Aller Road and Hockley Lane in Compton Pauncefoot.