THE chairman of Somerset Rivers Authority has stood down after four years in the role.

Somerset Cllr Mike Stanton said he had enjoyed the chairman’s role immensely and would remain a board members until next May’s local elections.

He said flash flooding had been the biggest change during his chairmanship, whether it was on Exmoor or on the River Cam.

Cllr Stanton said: “We are getting it a lot of the time and it does not get noticed quite so much, but it is significant.

“Creating the new 10-year plan was a landmark moment, and of course the Minister’s visit in February, and the subsequent announcement of £50 million were really important.”

He is being succeeded by Cllr Steve Ashton, who has personally twice experienced being flooded out.