MAINTENANCE work on several West Somerset rivers which helps to prevent flooding is planned to be reduced by the Environment Agency.

The agency oversees a programme of work every three to five years to remove trees in danger of falling into rivers and to clear other obstructions.

But now it has written to residents in the Roadwater area to say it needs to prioritise where it spends its money and it is proposing to reduce the amount of work it carries out on the Washford River.

Former district councillor John Nethercott, who lives in Roadwater, said: “This comes at a time when we are becoming more and more aware of the erratic weather conditions brought about by global warming.

“How much of their budget does it cost to send a small team of workmen, with a chain saw and staff hooks, up the course of the Washford River once a year to cut back anything that is likely to fall into the river and block bridges?”

Mr Nethercott said flooding in recent years in Williton was blamed on lack of maintenance of the Monksilver Stream.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said it was carrying out six months of consultation on its proposals and no changes would be made before then.

They said: “We have made the decision to reduce maintenance work on a number of watercourses, including the Washford River, because the work we have been doing has been identified as having a low flood risk benefit.

“The Environment Agency has to prioritise what works can be delivered to minimise flood risk with the funding available.

“We will continue to manage the risk of flooding and maintain our assets, flood alleviation schemes, and monitoring of water courses to provide flood warning services.”

The Washford River rises on the Brendon Hills near Treborough and joins the Bristol Channel in Watchet.