00:00A key flood defence in Highbridge could soon be upgraded and it might help to protect communities miles upstream.
00:09The River Brew starts in Brewsham near Brewton and flows west across the Somerset Levels.
00:16It separates Glastonbury and Street before reaching the sea at Highbridge, but much of this river lies just above sea level.
00:24That's where Highbridge Clines comes in. It's a structure on the River Brew designed to stop saltwater from pushing inland during high tides.
00:33Now, the Somerset Rivers Authority is proposing to widen the clies to allow more water to pass through during low tides and reduce flood risk upstream.
00:45This is part of a broader strategy.
00:48In the short term, engineers will focus on fixing weak points along river banks to prevent water from spilling out.
00:56In the medium term, over the next five to ten years, work will target improving flow between West Hay and Highbridge, including clearing pitch points and upgrading the Huntsville River system.
01:09Other options on the table include building a new flood plain, water storage facility and strengthening existing river banks.
01:18Long term plans look further upstream with improvements to the Glastonbury Mill stream and a possible redirection of water into the south drain.
01:28With developments like the Brew Farm Housing Estate and Walrow industrial area sitting right on the river banks, getting this right could protect homes, businesses and infrastructure for decades to come.
01:425 Hmph.
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01:535
01:575
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