RESIDENTS have told Wellington Town Council that they lay awake at night sometimes in fear that their homes will be flooded again.

People from Ditchford Cottages, in Rockwell Green, attended the council’s environment committee meeting on February 19 to say how disappointed they were with the findings of a report which had recently been published into the flooding of September 2023.

Torrents of water rushed through Ditchford Cottages, leaving homes devastated after a nearby stream burst its banks.

A report published by Somerset Council under Section 19 of the Flood and Management Act 2010 into the flooding of nearly 18 months ago has failed to cut the mustard with locals.

One resident said: “This report shows very little local knowledge of Wellington and doesn’t reflect the impact the flooding had on us.”

Another resident told councillors she had to move out of her home for seven months after the flooding so repairs could be completed.

And a third resident said: “The report is completely inadequate. I don’t sleep well when heavy rain is forecast.”

Councillors sympathised with the residents and agreed with their views that the Section 19 report had not offered much support.

Cllr Mark Lithgow, who chaired the meeting, said: “It’s a very poorly written report and it’s very generic – basically saying it ‘rained and it flooded’.

Deputy Mayor Cllr Catherine Govier-Wiggins, added: “It’s a very disappointing report – especially after waiting nearly 18 months to get it. I was disappointed to read in the report that they are ‘investigating further’. There are lots of pictures and maps in the report, but not a lot of detail.”

The Section 19 report offers some recommendations that could be taken by agencies – including the town council - in the future.

Cllr Sean Pringle-Kosikowsky suggested the town council created an emergency and stocked up on essential equipment to deal with looding.