In the summer of 2025, the Environment Agency wrote to certain residents living near main rivers in West Somerset to let them know that the Agency would not be continuing maintenance of vegetation in main rivers from January 2026. The letters were sent to those home owners, tenants and occupiers because a land registry search of their addresses showed that they had a main river running through, beneath or adjacent to the boundary of their land, and therefore they were riparian owners or occupiers.
The Environment Agency recognises that the notice of withdrawal of maintenance has caused uncertainty for some residents. They have decided to undertake a consultation to allow partner organisations and riparian owners the opportunity to share information that may contribute to the evidence the Agency has about flood risk and environmental value in their location. The results could help the Agency secure future allocations for watercourse maintenance funding.
The Environmental Agency would like to hear from you. If you received a letter from the Agency last summer, your evidence, data or information could influence the their efforts to obtain funding. Submissions must be made by 30th April 2026, on paper or electronically, maximum 300 words.
Click here to read the Agency’s letter requesting information, which explains the process in full and includes links and addresses.
Click here to fill out the Microsoft Forms questionnaire online.
Marion Jay
Wootton Courtenay 