Bridgwater: Flood Advice All Under One Roof

17 March 2014, 18:33 | Updated: 17 March 2014, 18:37

Floods in Muchelney

Advice and information for people recovering form Somerset’s floods will be under one roof from this week.

The Flood Assistance Centre (FAC), which provides everything from advice on insurance to practical emotional support, will now be available before and during the flood drop-in surgeries at The Canalside Conference Centre, in Bridgwater, on Wednesday evenings.

The FAC has been operating from the Bridgwater YMCA, providing priceless help to dozens of people affected by the floods. From Wednesday it will be moving to the Canalside to make it easier for people coming to these well-attended surgeries to access the extra support.

Leader of Somerset County Council, Councillor John Osman, said:

“Getting the right information and advice to the people is very important. The FAC and drop-in surgeries have worked well in tandem and we feel now is the right time to bring them together. Together they give advice and information, but also the kind of practical support that people need as they try to return to some kind of normality.”

The FAC will be open at the Canalside from 4-8pm. The flood surgeries will continue to run from 6-8pm, with representatives form all the organisations involved in the flood recovery to discuss important issues, provide information and answer questions.

As well as Somerset County Council’s adult and children’s social care, organisations represented at the FAC will include the Citizens Advice Bureau, Department of work and Pensions, and the Samaritans.

From this Wednesday, Somerset County Council takes on the organisation of the weekly flood surgeries from Sedgemoor District Council.

Multi-agency Flood Recovery Advice and Information Roadshows are also taking place this week - in Stathe, Oath, Wick and Stoke St Gregory on Wednesday, and Chadmead, North Newton and East Lyng on Thursday.

Flood-affected residents can also call now Somerset County Council’s Somerset Direct number 0845 345 9166 for advice and support.