THE Environment Agency has unveiled a ground-breaking approach to try to protect people from flooding in Bridgwater.

Representatives from the government department organised a special presentation and talk in the town yesterday (Monday) to present its Trigger Points action plan.

Members of the local community attended the event and the plans demonstrated how the agency would immediately react to a major flooding incident.

As well as reactive measures, the agency also showed the preventative measures they would take if heavy rain was forecast.

Bridgwater was heavily impacted by widespread flooding in the winter of 2013/2014, with the Somerset Levels which spread into the area almost completely flooded.

Now, the Environment Agency hopes the new approach would stop such severe flooding from having a major impact on the area.

The trigger points system is designed to reassure local communities the agency will do everything it can to reduce the impact of floods by bringing in additional mobile pumps when certain geographic, meteorological and hydrological criteria are met such as specific roads flooding, heavy rain forecast for several days and water levels rising.

Most of the trigger points in the Bridgwater area are located near Environment Agency-managed pumping stations.

Robbie Williams, from the agency, said: “While we have always operated our 21 permanent pumping stations across the Somerset Levels and brought in mobile pumps, the operation has not always been visible or fully understood by local residents.

“Communities affected by the flooding in Somerset during 2013/14 said things were made worse because they didn’t know what was being done to manage the floods and felt that more could be done.”

The Environment Agency has identified the pumping stations at Westover, Westonzoyland, Monks Leaze Clyce, Huish Episcopi and West Sedgemoor as locations that could be possible flooding trigger points.

Currymoor, Saltmoor and Northmoor have also been identified as trigger points.

Mr Williams said he hoped the new action plan would tackle flooding problems, but said it would be not an easy task for the agency.

He added: “Flood management is a complex and challenging task.

“You can’t start pumping in one location then flood somewhere else.

“Our response to a developing flood incident must be carefully planned and co-ordinated.

“We have listened to local people and developed a clear and understandable description of the key actions we’ll take to reduce the impact of future floods and when we’ll take them.”