wp_statistics_words_count: 4

Major incident and flood response update across the county – 16th February 

16 February 2026 Stakeholder Briefing

wp_statistics_words_count: 5

February 12, 2026

North Curry Music Festival

Please follow this link

wp_statistics_words_count: 4

February 11, 2026

Major incident and flood response update across the county – 11th February 

11 February 2026 Stakeholder Briefing

wp_statistics_words_count: 5

February 11, 2026February 11, 2026

Major incident and flood response update across the county – 10th February

Multi-agency support continues with response teams on the ground supporting communities, monitoring the situation closely and ready to act if necessary.

A major incident remains in place following moderate rainfall overnight.

Operations are still being co-ordinated involving Somerset Council, emergency services, health colleagues, the Environment Agency (EA), local voluntary organisations and other key partners.

Teams remain active in the area engaging with the community both in terms of door-knocking and community information points.

Teams were at Burrowbridge and Moorland today, including representatives from the EA, Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police officers.

A Community Information Point is being held in Langport tomorrow, Wednesday 11 February, run by Thrive (EA, Avon and Somerset Police and Somerset Council officers will be present):

Langport – Talking Café at Angel Café: Bow Street, Langport, TA10 9PQ 11.30am until 1.30pm.

Please view previous updates here.

Emergency Response and Recovery Team

Teams remain on standby – ongoing weather conditions and water levels are being closely monitored.

We are continuing to visit homes in areas which may be at risk of flooding. Officers from Avon and Somerset Police and Somerset Council are on the ground.
Visits have been taking place at Burrowbridge and Moorland today.
If there is a need to evacuate, residents will be contacted by the police, Somerset Council staff or by receiving a flood warning from the Environment Agency.
We have plans in place to stand up rest centres should they be needed.

In line with the principles of the Avon and Somerset Local Resilience Forum plan, the first Recovery Working Group has met to look at planning the recovery operation.

We are encouraging anybody affected by flooding to please report it here: Flood report – Self Service.   

In an emergency residents should always call 999 immediately.

Highways and Transport

Damage to roads

County-wide the recent weather has caused a high number of defects on roads across Somerset, and our teams are working hard to assess and fix these in order of priority.

Over the last two weeks the service has received 5,000 enquiries.

If you spot a problem, please ensure that these are reported here as soon as you can: Report a problem on the road. This is the quickest route for incidents to get picked up.

We would continue to ask people to be patient during this time, urgent repairs to defects may cause some travel disruption, we are grateful for people’s understanding.

Current road closures due to flooding and adverse weather:

On the Levels, all four roads with emergency road closure gates remain closed:

The A361 between East Lyng and Burrowbridge, along with Cutts Road, the Langport to Muchelney Road and New Road, West Lyng. Also:
Aller Drove, Long Bridge Road, Wetmoor Lane and Thorney Road near Langport; Godney Road from B3151 to Godney Drove crossroads; Ruggs Drove, Chedzoy.
Bridgehampton Road near Yeovil; Durleigh Hill, Durleigh; Bineham Lane, Yeovilton.
NB – A30 Hendford Hill, Yeovil is currently closed due to fallen trees/bank slippage.

Please check here Roadworks and travel information and follow @travelsomerset on X and FB for travel updates.

Environment Agency Update

Situation:

Over the past 24 hours, Somerset has experienced moderate rainfall with totals ranging from 5 to 12 mm, which was less than predicted.

Weather fronts are forecast to bring further rain through the week, the outlook remains unsettled.

Water levels across Currymoor, Northmoor, Saltmoor, and the moors upstream of Langport (including Huish Episcopi, Midelney and Westover) remain very high. Because the ground is fully saturated, local rivers are sensitive to further rainfall.

The tidal cycle is moving into a neap tide period, when the difference between high and low tides becomes smaller. The impact of tidal conditions on river levels and pumping operations is reducing, which helps us drain the system.

We are monitoring the situation closely and will respond rapidly to changes.

5 flood warnings and 11 flood alerts are in place across Somerset, no new flood warnings or alerts have been triggered. We encourage people to check for updates regularly.

There is further useful information on how the Levels and Moors operate in this document How the Somerset Levels and Moors Work How the Somerset Moors work

What we’re doing:

We will be running community drop in, together with our partners:

– Wednesday 11 February 11.30-1.30pm supporting the Thrive Talking Café at The Angel Café, Langport TA20 9PQ

Additional pumps are operational at: Northmoor, Saltmoor, Elson’s Clyce, Westonzoyland and Bridgwater Canal and Docks. Our teams are working 24/7 to ensure pumps are running at full capacity after experiencing some reliability issues.
Additional pumps are installed at Haymoor and will be installed at Currymoor when river levels allow. We cannot use these until river levels drop further.
When the River Parrett is low enough, we actively operate the River Parrett Flood Relief Channel (Sowy) in agreement with the IDB, to ensure we maximise the amount of water channelled through the system.
Additional ultra-high-volume pumps are being deployed at Dunball Sluice, we anticipate them becoming operational this week. This will allow us to optimise use of the Sowy.
We have carried out emergency work to improve conveyance at Northmoor Pumping Station and further work is ongoing.
In the Brue catchment, pumping is operational at Gold Corner and North Drain as river levels allow and we continue to operate the Brue Diversion Channel (Cripps River) as required. Additional pumps are being mobilised at North Drain to improve our pumping capacity, should it be required.
We are sorry about the inconvenience caused by the road closure whilst we bring in additional pumps at Northmoor & Saltmoor Pumping Stations. We hope to get the road reopened as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

Advice for our communities:

To ensure your safety, please do not walk or drive through flood water. Flood water may be deeper than it looks and contain sewage and hidden hazards.

We encourage you to report any property flooding as soon as you can. Reporting helps organisations coordinate support and prioritise response. You can do this by calling the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60. Since a major incident was declared, multi-agency response to the flooding has been stepped up.

Find more information and local gauge levels online at Find river, sea, groundwater and rainfall levels

For welfare needs, including animal welfare, please contact Somerset Council on 0300 123 2224.

NHS Somerset update

The NHS in Somerset is here for you if you need any help with your health during this difficult time.

If you need advice on health conditions, or to check symptoms, visit 111 online or phone 111.
If you need clinical advice about a developing health condition, phone 111. They can provide advice and where needed, arrange for a clinician to phone you back to discuss your symptoms.
We have 90 community pharmacies in Somerset with highly experienced community pharmacists who can give you clinical advice on over 40 common conditions and prescriptions for seven common conditions, including eye infections and UTI’s as of our Pharmacy First
Our mental health service offers a 24/7 helpline (also available seven days a week online during the day). Phone Mindline Somerset on 0800 138 1692 (freephone) or 01823 276892 (local rate).
We have urgent treatment centres that can help you with urgent care, including everything from sprains and broken bones, to head injuries, bites, eye infections and chest and throat infections. They are in Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Chard, Bridgwater, Minehead (Minor Injury Unit), Yeovil.

For more information about how we can help look after you this winter visit winter web pages . This includes help with everything from where you can find a warm hub, pain cafes and help with free food, to support if you are experiencing domestic violence or help if you are struggling financially.

Remember if you have an emergency, please continue to call 999 or visit your Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.

Preparing for flooding

Sign up for flood warnings at uk/get –flood –warnings
Call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 for updates, to sign up for warnings, or to report flooding.
Visit uk/prepare –for –flooding for advice on what to do During a flood
Call 999 if there is a risk to life

Reporting flooding

Environment Agency (main rivers or sea): 0800 80 70 60
Somerset Council (ordinary watercourses): 0300 123 2224
Wessex Water (sewers): 0345 600 4600
Check for flooding updates at check –for –service.gov.uk
Visit uk/help –during –flood or somersetprepared.org.uk for guidance

Advice for residents

Our Communications Team is sharing information about where to find useful information for what to do to prepare for flooding.

Anyone worried about flooding or impacted by flooding can find advice and guidance at Flooding information and advice .

If there is serious risk to life due to flooding always call 999.

Anyone needing to leave their home due to flooding is reminded to take any medication they may need with them.

Please do not walk or drive through flood water.

Flood water may be deeper than it looks and contain sewage and hidden hazards.

More information about safety during floods on the road can be found here:  Adverse weather conditions.   

For urgent housing needs please contact Somerset Council housing team on 0800 123 2224. Further information can be found on our website www.somerset.gov.uk/housing–support/homelessnessguidance/.

For welfare needs, including animal welfare contact Somerset Council on 0300 123 2224.

Environment Agency Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60.

Stay up to date

For the latest travel updates visit our Travel Somerset Facebook page or our Roadworks and travel information page .

Find out the current status of roads that have Emergency road closure gates .

wp_statistics_words_count: 1564

February 9, 2026February 9, 2026

RSV Vaccination

Follow this link to read the poster

wp_statistics_words_count: 7

February 6, 2026

Major incident and flood response update across the county – 6th February 

STAKEHOLDER INFORMATION SHEET

Multi-agency support continues with response teams on the ground reassuring communities and ready to act if necessary

The situation remains stable but the ground is saturated and catchments continue to be very sensitive to additional rainfall.
Unless there is a change in the situation this update will be sent out every other weekday. The next update will be Monday 9 February.

A major incident remains in place – the situation is stable, rates of rise in the downstream moors (Northmoor, Saltmoor) are slowly reducing. Levels in the moors upstream of Langport (Huish Episcopi, Midelney and Westover) are reducing slowly as well. But further rain is forecast in the coming days and the weather remains unsettled.

Operations are still being co-ordinated involving Somerset Council, emergency services, health colleagues, the Environment Agency (EA), local voluntary organisations and other key partners.

No information points were held today, however all partner agencies remain available for any queries or concerns. Please see contacts below.

Please view previous updates here.

Emergency Response and Recovery Team

Teams remain on standby – ongoing weather conditions and water levels are being monitored.

In line with the principles of the Avon and Somerset Local Resilience Forum plan, the first Recovery Working Group has met to look at planning the recovery operation.

Highways and Transport

The clear-up work continues. County-wide the recent weather has caused a high number of defects on roads across Somerset, and our teams are working hard to assess these and fix them in order of priority.

Over the last two weeks the service has received 5,000 enquiries.

If you spot a problem, please ensure that these are reported here as soon as you can: Report a problem on the road. This is the quickest route for incidents to get picked up.

We would continue to ask people to be patient during this time, urgent repairs to defects may cause some travel disruption, we are grateful for people’s understanding. Key road closures

A small number of minor roads remain closed.

Please check here Roadworks and travel information and follow @travelsomerset on X and FB for travel updates.

Housing and Evacuation Support

Only a small number of temporary accommodation placements have been required so far.
Housing teams are planning ahead.

We are encouraging anybody affected by flooding to please report it here: Flood report – Self Service.  

In an emergency residents should always call 999 immediately.

Environment Agency Update

Situation:

Moderate rainfall has been recorded over the last 24 hours with between 7mm and 21mm falling across Somerset. Unsettled conditions are expected over the weekend with persistent bands of rain and heavy showers overnight Saturday.

Catchments are fully saturated and rivers remain very sensitive to any additional rainfall.

Rates of rise in the downstream moors (Northmoor, Saltmoor) are slowly reducing. Levels in the moors upstream of Langport (Huish Episcopi, Midelney and Westover) are reducing slowly as well. At West Sedgemoor, river levels are still too high to allow us to pump. If we pump too early this could cause a flood risk to others.

Whilst high tides have peaked tide levels remain high for the next few days, which may limit our ability to pump at certain locations. Pumps will continue to operate whenever river levels allow.

5 flood warnings and 11 flood alerts remain in place for rivers across Somerset.

We continue to monitor conditions closely and will respond quickly to any changes.

We encourage people to check for updates regularly.

There is further useful information on how the Levels and Moors operate in this document How the Somerset Levels and Moors Work

What we’re doing:

Additional pumps are operational at: Northmoor, Saltmoor, Elson’s Clyce, Westonzoyland and Bridgwater Canal and Docks.
Additional pumps are installed at Haymoor and will be installed at Currymoor when river levels allow. We cannot use these until river levels drop further.
When the River Parrett is low enough, we actively operate the River Parrett Flood Relief Channel (Sowy) in agreement with the IDB, to ensure we maximise the amount of water channelled through the system.
Additional ultra-high-volume pumps are being deployed at Dunball Sluice, we anticipate them becoming operational mid next week. This will assist us to optimise use of the Sowy.
We have carried out emergency work to improve conveyance at Northmoor Pumping Station and further work is ongoing. The construction of a bypass culvert at Vinneys Bridge is progressing with design, materials secured, and necessary checks that the installation can be completed safely.
In the Brue catchment, pumping is operational at Gold Corner and North Drain as river levels allow and we continue to operate the Brue Diversion Channel (Cripps River) as required. Additional pumps are being mobilised at North Drain to proactively improve our pumping capacity should it be required.
Temporary telemetry has been installed on both Longload and Midleney Drains to allow us to continue to monitor levels whilst our permanent gauges are inaccessible and not working.

Advice for our communities:

To ensure your safety, please do not walk or drive through flood water. Flood water may be deeper than it looks and contain sewage and hidden hazards.

Find more information and local gauge levels online at Find river, sea, groundwater and rainfall levels – GOV.UK

For welfare needs, including animal welfare, please contact Somerset Council on 0300 123 2224.

Schools

For the latest information on school closures please visit School closures    NHS Somerset update

The NHS in Somerset is here for you if you need any help with your health during this difficult time.

If you need advice on health conditions, or to check symptoms, visit 111 online or phone 111.
If you need clinical advice about a developing health condition, phone 111. They can provide advice and where needed, arrange for a clinician to phone you back to discuss your symptoms.
We have 90 community pharmacies in Somerset with highly experienced community pharmacists who can give you clinical advice on over 40 common conditions and prescriptions for seven common conditions, including eye infections and UTI’s as of our Pharmacy First
Our mental health service offers a 24/7 helpline (also available seven days a week online during the day). Phone Mindline Somerset on 0800 138 1692 (freephone) or 01823 276892 (local rate).
We have urgent treatment centres that can help you with urgent care, including everything from sprains and broken bones, to head injuries, bites, eye infections and chest and throat infections. They are in Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Chard, Bridgwater, Minehead (Minor Injury Unit), Yeovil.

Remember if you have an emergency, please continue to call 999 or visit your Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.

Preparing for flooding

Sign up for flood warnings at uk/get –flood –warnings  
Call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 for updates, to sign up for warnings, or to report flooding.
Visit uk/prepare –for –flooding  for advice on what to do During a flood
Call 999 if there is a risk to life

Reporting flooding

Environment Agency (main rivers or sea): 0800 80 70 60
Somerset Council (ordinary watercourses): 0300 123 2224
Wessex Water (sewers): 0345 600 4600
Check for flooding updates at check –for –service.gov.uk  
Visit uk/help –during –flood  or somersetprepared.org.uk  for guidance

Advice for residents

Our Communications Team is sharing information about where to find useful information for what to do to prepare for flooding.

Anyone worried about flooding or impacted by flooding can find advice and guidance at Flooding information and advice  .

If there is serious risk to life due to flooding always call 999.

Anyone needing to leave their home due to flooding is reminded to take any medication they may need with them.

Please do not walk or drive through flood water.

Flood water may be deeper than it looks and contain sewage and hidden hazards.

More information about safety during floods on the road can be found here: Adverse weather conditions  

Reporting problems

To report flooding on a road or blocked drains on a road use our report a problem on a road form 

If your property is owned by us and has been affected by flooding, please visit our Housing repairs page or you can phone us on 0300 123 2224.

For urgent housing needs please contact Somerset Council housing team on 0800 123 2224. Further information can be found on our website www.somerset.gov.uk/housing –support/homelessness guidance/  

For welfare needs, including animal welfare contact Somerset Council on 0300 123 2224.

Environment Agency Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60.

Stay up to date: For the latest travel updates visit our Travel Somerset Facebook page or our Roadworks and travel information page

wp_statistics_words_count: 1494

February 4, 2026

New self-referral system speeds up breast cancer diagnosis in Somerset

A new self-referral pathway for people with symptoms of breast cancer is giving patients in Somerset faster access to specialist care, while reducing pressure on GP services.

Since its launch a year ago (23 January 2025), 866 people have self-referred directly to Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s breast diagnostic clinic, without the need for a GP appointment.

Of those, 48 have been diagnosed with cancer, with 34 progressing onto treatment, and 727 being identified as non-cancerous, demonstrating the strength of the clinically led digital triage in directing higher-risk patients into urgent specialist care and reassuring those at lower risk.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust was the first in England to introduce this pathway, which is accessed via NHS 111 online – a national digital triage product designed to help people reach the right level of care for their symptoms – and the NHS App.

It allows eligible patients with worrying symptoms, such as a breast lump, to be referred straight to a breast diagnostic clinic, speeding up cancer diagnosis and freeing up valuable GP appointments.

It’s also in line with the recently published NHS 10 Year Plan, which focuses on earlier diagnosis and prevention.

Rosie Edgerley, cancer programme manager at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The introduction of the self-referral system is a significant step forward in supporting people with breast symptoms.

“By enabling patients to bypass their GP and be referred directly for specialist assessment, we are helping them to be seen more quickly during what can be an anxious and worrying time.

“This new pathway means patients get the reassurance or treatment they need sooner, while also easing pressure on our GP colleagues.”

Miss Caroline Osborne, a consultant breast surgeon at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, added: “This is a very exciting new self-referral pathway for people with concerning breast symptoms that will allow them to be assessed by the specialist team at the earliest opportunity.

“For most people referred, we will be able to reassure them that their symptoms are not related to breast cancer.

“There will, sadly, be some people who do have breast cancer, and for them, the 111 online referral route could result in an earlier diagnosis of breast cancer, which is something we always strive for.

“We know that when a breast cancer is diagnosed early, it gives us the best opportunity for successful treatment of the disease.”

Shaida Tanweer, senior product manager at 111 online, added: “This is about using technology to make access simpler and safer. Patients get faster reassurance or diagnosis, while the NHS benefits from a more efficient pathway. It shows how digital-first services can deliver real change in cancer care.”

One in seven women in the UK develop breast cancer during their lifetime, and it’s more common in older women.

There are several factors that can influence someone’s risk of breast cancer, including their age, weight and family history. In addition, some environmental factors, such as alcohol consumption and smoking, add to the risk of breast cancer.

Breast cancer symptoms can include:

a lump, or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit
a change in the skin of your breast, such as dimpling or redness
a change in size or shape of one or both breasts
nipple discharge (if you are not pregnant or breastfeeding), which may have blood in it
a change in the shape or look of your nipple, such as it turning inwards or a rash on it

Breast lumps are very common and can be caused by other harmless conditions, and having some of these symptoms does not definitely mean a person has breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, Cancer Research UK says, with about 55,500 women and 370 men diagnosed in the UK each year.

In the UK, from the age of 50, women with no obvious symptoms are invited for a mammogram every three years to check for breast cancer, known as breast screening.

Find out more or make a self-referral at: 111.nhs.uk/check-breast-symptoms.

More information about cancer self-referrals in Somerset is here: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/cancer/somerset-self-referral/

At Yeovil Hospital: Pictured (left to right): Stella Campbell – consultant radiographer, Becky Laney – specialist breast cancer nurse, Miss Caroline Osborne – consultant breast surgeon, Rosie Edgerley – cancer programme manager, Jo Taswell – clinical service manager, Sally Matthews – cancer improvement manager.

At Musgrove Park Hospital: Pictured (left to right): Annalou-Fae Inot – advanced nurse practitioner, Hollie Kavanagh – lead breast care nurse at Musgrove Park Hospital, Miss Maria Bramley – consultant breast surgeon, Charlotte Goddard – breast clinical nurse specialist, Dr Zoe Goldthorpe – breast screening clinical lead.

For further information, please contact:

Paul Hopkins, External Communications Lead at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust: paul.hopkins@somersetft.nhs.uk or 01823 344436 or 07717300326

wp_statistics_words_count: 763

February 4, 2026

Temporary Road Closure: ttro970649W(TD) – Greenway, North Curry

Please follow the link to view the above road closure: https://one.network/?tm=GB147033978 and the link for the Notice 2: https://api-gb.one.network/downloads/tm/1111/03-notice-2_147033978_4052058_143f9c7ec1.pdf

The order becomes effective on 25th February 2026 and will remain in force for eighteen months.

The works are expected to commence on 3rd March 2026 and last for 3 days to enable Wessex Water to renew a stop tap.

The contractor has indicated that access for Emergency Services through the site is not permitted on this occasion.

For any further information about this closure, please contact Wessex Water on 0345 600 3600, quoting reference: ttro970649W(TD).

Please note that should you require to view a closure which is more than two weeks ahead, please visit https://one.network/?tm=GB147033978

wp_statistics_words_count: 104

February 3, 2026

Major incident and flood response update across the county – 3 February 2026 update 

Multi-agency support continues with response teams on the ground, assisting and reassuring our communities

A major incident remains in place.

Operations are being co-ordinated from Bridgwater Police Station involving Somerset Council, emergency services, health colleagues, the Environment Agency (EA), local voluntary organisations and other key partners.   

A community drop-in took place offering flood advice at Great Bow Wharf, Langport, between 10am and midday today (Tuesday).

We are asking people to go to the Talking Cafe run by Thrive at the Angel Cafe in Langport tomorrow (4 February) from 11.30am-1.30pm as an information point.

There will also be an information point held at Moorlands tomorrow from 10am-12noon.

Please view previous updates here.