FLOOD-ravaged Williton could be set to receive a £370,000 boost to prevent a repeat of the two major floods which ripped through the village towards the end of last year.

But before any work can be carried out to strengthen Williton's defences, the Environment Agency is carry out an investigation to ascertain if the work is, in fact, viable.

Williton was badly hit in October but December's flood was the worst in living memory when a torrent of water swept through the village and gushed into houses and businesses before residents had time to react.

Since then, villagers have been up in arms and calling for the defence schemes to implemented immediately, before the same happens again.

A decision on the work will be reached within the next six months but will not be started for at least another two years. The agency's time is also being spent looking into other new potential troublespots that were affected in the recent storm.

According to the Environment Agency, flood defence improvements in Williton have been put under the spotlight three times before, but without results.

The geography of the land and the steep landscape would have left a huge dent in the cash pot if the expensive work had been implemented.

The Environment Agency's Somerset local flood defence committee is meeting today (Friday) to discuss the recent flooding decimation and where to inject cash from their budget.

The committee aims to take advantage of the increase in Government funding in light of the winter flooding across the region and have drawn up business plans for 2002-03 and 2003-04.

Committee members have already agreed to spend £9 million this year with local authorities providing £7.667 million - a rise of 28.25 per cent on last year.

An increase of £1.7 million across the county equates to an extra 64 pence per household being pumped into flood prevention.

Spending is forecast to jump to more than £12 million for next year and then to £13 million for 2003-04.

Already a sum of £210,000 has been calculated to be needed for remedial works and repairs to damage to defences in Somerset caused by the deluge of water.

Members will hear that work on vital projects can jump the queue or be brought forward because of emergency Government funding aid announced by junior Agriculture Minister Elliot Morley.

Committee chairman Humphrey Temperley said: "The increase in spending is great news for Somerset and the community charge payer.

"We have a real win-win situation. Not only will flood defences benefit but we will achieve this at a relatively small cost as an increase in the levy brings increased Government grant."

West Somerset district and Williton parish councillor Hugh Davies made a call this week for the £370,000 earmarked for Williton to be at least doubled.

Cllr Davies said: "I could not believe it when I learned that this flood defence work has been brought forward. I wouldn't like to think for what year it had been planned to be completed.

"I personally think the work needs to be carried out immediately or next year at the latest. I don't know the exact ins and outs because I am not an engineer, but when we get to 2003 the cost would have shot up anyway."

Half Acre resident Viv Howells, who was caught out by the sudden December flood and found his home under water, said: "They should start doing the work straight away. By the time we get to 2003 we could have had two or three more floods.

"I know they might have big plans for the future but they could start the little things, like clearing the streams and brooks of reeds.

"If this was cleared and some pipes in the streams made bigger then the water could be pushed out to the lower ground and into the sea because we are not very far from the Bristol Channel."

North Wessex area flood defence and water resources manager Richard Symonds said: "Bids from this flood committee for expenditure related to this winter's floods fall into three categories: remedial works, extra expenditure related to the event and to bring forward capital schemes.

"The flood has also shown a need for feasibility studies in new locations. This has resulted in a greater deficit being forecast for levels of balances at the end of the year."