3 Villages
Flood Group
Here to help
when needed
• Mudford • Ashington • Chilton Cantelo
3 VFG NEWS PAGE
Follow our news from around the local area, from flooding to sewerage overspill and more, keep checking here for all the latest.
Riparian Ownership
Thanks to all who joined us for our Riparian Workshop this evening! Mudford Village Hall was nicely full, and those who attended seemed very well informed and eager to learn more; a few real gems came out of it in terms of our learning. Thanks to Paul from Somerset Rivers Authority for running the session and to our colleagues at Three Villages Flood Group for putting on a great event.
There is also a very helpful pdf explaining Riparian Ownership and what that means for you, download it here.
Unacceptable discharge of Sewage
A summary of what was discussed regarding the unacceptable discharge of sewage into the River Yeo at Mudford Pumping station when it rains, and sometimes even when it doesn’t leaving local residents awash with sewage. A year on and nothing has changed!
Housing Development Planning: Water Companies
(Volume 763: debated on Wednesday 12 March 2025 in Parliament.)
Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)
I thank my hon. Friend for securing this really important debate. Speaking of medieval villages, I met residents of a little village called Mudford in my constituency last week. Two new housing applications have recently been approved for up to 1,000 homes just upstream on the River Yeo. Mudford already suffers from extreme flooding and relies on inadequate and fragile sewerage systems that already overflow regularly during heavy rain. Worryingly, the developers plan to use the same system despite clear environmental risks. Does my hon. Friend agree with me that water companies must be fully involved in the planning system, to ensure that water infrastructure can handle the demand and prevent future flooding and spills of sewage?
Helen Morgan
My hon. Friend describes a situation that I think we are all familiar with. I agree with her about the role of water companies and will go on to talk about that point at some length in my speech, so I thank her for that intervention.
When there is heavy rain, the residents I met struggle with surface water flooding and, unfortunately, with sewage backing up into homes and gardens, which we all agree is pretty horrible. Further homes in the area are in the planning process, so the residents are extremely concerned. Each year, their situation gets worse. An elderly resident told me that sometimes, when it has been raining heavily, she has to ask her neighbours not to use their bathroom, because sewage will flood into her garden if they do. That is not a position that any homeowner should be put in, so we need to ask ourselves how we have allowed this to happen in the first place.
We are acutely aware of the need to build more homes, and we support the Government in their mission to build more homes, but it is essential that the infrastructure for both new and existing residents keeps pace with development. Astonishingly, water companies are not statutory consultees when a housing development goes through the planning process. That means that there is no statutory safeguard for home buyers that the company responsible for dealing with their foul waste has ensured or confirmed that its existing sewers will cope; nor is there any statutory safeguard for existing residents against a new development bringing some unpleasant surprises.
Worst flooding we’ve seen so far in 2026
Stay Safe: A Huge Thank You to Our Flood Wardens 🛶
Some of the worst flooding we’ve seen so far in 2026 has been some of the most severe in memory—with some locals saying it’s even tougher than the 2014 floods. From 7-foot deep water near the West Mudford Road church to road closures on Main Street, it’s been a massive challenge for everyone.
A huge shoutout to our Flood Wardens who rescued an elderly man after he was trapped in his car for 5 hours. Sadly, some residents have had to move to temporary housing, and we’ve already seen 8 cars lost to the water this season.
Please, stay safe:
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Don’t risk the drive: If the road is closed, it’s often to prevent “bow waves” from pushing water into people’s homes.
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Check before you go: Tune into the radio or check social media updates.
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Be patient: We know you have places to be, but no journey is worth your car—or your life.
Stay dry and look out for one another! ❤️
Flood Mitigation through Nature-Based Solutions – Event Summary
Flood Mitigation through Nature-Based Solutions – Event Summary
On 22 January 2026, the Three Villages Flood Group hosted a well-attended public meeting at Mudford Village Hall focused on flood mitigation through Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). The evening’s speaker was Lorne Thomson from the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust.
The presentation highlighted the significant potential for practical, nature-led interventions to reduce flood risk across the local catchment. Using examples from comparable areas, Lorne demonstrated how measures such as leaky dams, ponds, re-engineered ditches and wetland creation can slow the movement of water across land, reducing peak flows into rivers and vulnerable communities.
Importantly, these interventions deliver multiple additional benefits, including improved biodiversity through habitat creation, enhanced soil health, and nutrient mitigation. The role of wetlands in filtering phosphates from agricultural and surface water run-off was also discussed.
The meeting emphasised the importance of partnership working, including collaboration with FWAG on soil management techniques to improve water retention, and with Wessex Water on wetland projects to address water quality issues.
Overall, the event provided strong evidence that there are realistic, achievable and community-driven solutions available, which can make a meaningful contribution to flood resilience in the Three Villages area.
Photo: Lorne Thomson, Yeovil Rivers Community Trust, with Kay Mackenzie , Chair of Three Villages Flood Group
Flood Mitigation through Nature-Based Solutions
22 January 2026 | 
7pm – 8.30pm
Mudford Village Hall6 Cars lost to flooding at West Mudford in December 2025 (So far)
Sadly we have so far, and continue to loose vehicles in the flooding. Why? If you don’t know the depth of the water don’t attempt to drive into it, it’s always likely to be deeper in places that you expect. At West Mudford Road by the Church is notorious for flooding and there are depth markers that give you an indication of how deep it is, unfortunately the water is deeper than the old depth gauges depict, mainly because the road has dropped slightly!
But the flood group put out ‘Warning Flood’ signs every time it gets too deep to drive through, but still people feel the need to drive into it. So far in December 2025 we have lost 5 cars and it’s only early days in the flood season.
Last year we lost 11 cars, 2 lorries and 3 vans, all because people take a chance, please don’t be one of these people. Take care and take a different route!
Project Rescue – Somerset Council
Project RESCUE:
Somerset Council’s drone initiative for enhanced emergency response and environmental monitoring.
Somerset Council was awarded funding from the Innovate UK Future Flight Regional Demonstrator Fund for its £191,370 Resilience and Emergency Services Coordination Using Enabled-drones (RESCUE) project. RESCUE will explore how drones can be deployed quickly to reach inaccessible areas, providing real-time footage and data to support ground teams during environmental emergencies. The Council is collaborating with Land and Minerals Consulting Ltd and Limosaero, and will involve local emergency services, resilience teams, and government agencies to develop the case for adopting the scheme in Somerset.
To read more visit: Somerset Drones
New Emergency Planning page
Can’t get help because of floodwater?
One of the things most often asked of the 3vfg is if we are flooded in and can’t get out because of surrounding floods, how do I get help in an emergency?
That’s a fantastic and important question! It’s completely understandable why people worry about getting help when they’re cut off by floodwater—it can feel very isolating.
The great news is that there is a robust system in place to make sure you can get assistance, even when the roads are flooded. You are never unreachable in an emergency.
Read more information on the Emergency Planning page
Thank you from the 3VFG
A big thank you to everyone who came along and supported our Flood Pod event in Mudford yesterday.
Flood Mary was kept very busy, and it was fantastic to welcome visitors not only from our Three Villages but also from neighbouring communities.
We were especially pleased to chat with representatives from the agencies who joined us — all committed to helping improve flood resilience in our homes and communities.
Flood Mary Tour comes to Mudford
Come and join us for the Flood Mary event.
Mudford Village Hall Car Park 26th September 2pm – 6pm
Come and see practical, real-life examples of how you can protect your home and property from flooding.
Free entry – everyone welcome Expert advice & resources Hands-on demonstrations of flood resilience products A chance to ask Flood Mary your questions
Whether you’ve experienced flooding before or simply want to be prepared, this is your chance to get the very best advice – right here in Mudford.
A Meeting of Minds
The foundation of our efforts lies in A Meeting of Minds between diverse groups.
A Meeting of Minds: Land Management for Flood Resilience
The Three Villages Flood Group (3VFG) recently hosted a focused and productive meeting bringing together leading organisations working on land, water, and flood resilience in Somerset.
A Meeting of Minds is essential for addressing the concerns related to flood resilience.
Held at Mudford Village Hall on 15th July, we were joined by expert representatives from:
• Somerset Rivers Authority
• FWAG South West (Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group)
• Wessex Water
• Yeovil Rivers Community Trust
• Alongside our full Three Villages Flood Group team
The purpose of the meeting was to explore land management interventions that can reduce the risk of flooding across our communities. Together, we highlighted priority areas within the three villages, discussed practical approaches that could be implemented locally and collaboratively with landowners, farmers, and partner agencies.
FWAG shared insights from their past work in Somerset, where they’ve supported farmers in applying nature-based solutions such as:
- Soil improvement and cover cropping
- Buffer strips and riparian planting
- Field corner wetlands and leaky dams
- Improved watercourse management and installation of ponds.
These kinds of interventions have been proven to slow the flow of water, reduce surface runoff, and help retain water higher in the catchment—making them ideal tools in the battle against flooding.
This meeting marks the beginning of a programme of coordinated action. By drawing on the collective knowledge and experience in the room and combining it with potential funding opportunities, we’re confident that we can begin to make a tangible difference.
We’re incredibly grateful for the collaboration and shared commitment shown by all involved, and we look forward to keeping the community updated as plans develop.
If you’re a local landowner, farmer or resident who wants to get involved or learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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