TAUNTON town centre businesses fear being "sacrificed" to protect a proposed development from flooding.

Tens of thousands of pounds could be spent raising the level of the disused livestock market at Firepool, where shops, offices, homes and pubs could be built.

But the works would mean overflow water from a tiny stream during heavy rainfall would be diverted to the North Town area, claims an Environment Agency report just added to an outline planning application submitted last year.

Temporary barriers would protect homes when severe flooding is forecast, but some businesses worry they could be under water if the town experiences floods as bad as in 1960.

Somerset County Gazette:

Simon Ware, of Ware and Co estate agents, in Bridge Street, said: "I'm worried - it would affect my office. We're being sacrificed for Firepool.

"They're talking about temporary barriers when it looks like flooding badly, but I don't believe the council could react quickly enough.

"It could affect property values and increase insurance premiums."

John Court, a partner at Gurds menswear, in Station Road, has written to Taunton Deane Borough Council's planners, saying: "Temporary flood barriers aren't the answer.

"From memory the last flood (in 1960) was very early in the morning, not office hours. By the time the temporary barriers are out of storage and erected, we'll all be flooded.

"With the occurrence of heavy rainfall with climate change, a permanent solution must be found for the existing properties, not just this new development."

The flooding would be caused by overflow from Mill Lease Stream, which runs from Kingston Mary, through Taunton School and into the River Tone.

If Firepool is raised, lower lying areas of North Town and towards Priory Bridge Road would be at risk if defences between Clarence Street and Poundstretcher were overtopped.

But temporary steel defences stored in crates would be deployed within 90 minutes to defend homes, which the report labels "more vulnerable", while commercial properties are considered lower priority. Goodland Gardens would also not be protected.

Dennis Pywell believes existing flood defence walls could be raised - he said: "Until the final height is agreed in the consultations with the Environment Agency, they could be raised to the level proposed when the steel temporary barriers are in position.

"These works should be carried out at the expense of the (Firepool) developers."

Ward councillor Jefferson Horsley has written to people in North Town urging them to put their views to the council on the proposals.

A Deane spokeswoman said the authority is working with the Environment Agency on long-term plans to cut the risk of flooding, with a water storage area proposed near Bradford-on-Tone, similar to the facility at Longrun Meadow, in Taunton.

She added: "If the Firepool site is developed without appropriate mitigation measures before delivery of the long-term project, studies have also shown that the loss of flood storage capacity from site raising could increase flooding to third party properties, predominantly in the North Town area.

"Therefore, in response to the recent planning application, the Environment Agency has suggested that interim mitigation measures are needed.

"The developer (St Modwen) has submitted a proposal comprising temporary barriers at key locations to be installed in times of when severe flooding is forecast."

Mark Thorne, St Modwen planning manager, said: "Further to additional flood risk analysis and reporting conducted by St Modwen, the Environment Agency is satisfied the Firepool development can be progressed safely and as a result does not object to the proposed development.

“The Firepool proposals will not cause the River Tone defences to overtop and would therefore not increase the probability or likelihood of flooding to North Town.

"Notwithstanding this, a longer term permanent solution to reducing existing flood risks in Taunton is currently being developed by the Environmental Agency and Taunton Deane Borough Council which will address long-term flood risk.

"In the event Firepool is constructed in advance of these works being completed, St Modwen will enter into an agreement, in line with EA recommendations, to provide interim temporary flood defences in key locations along the River Tone frontage so that the potential effects of flooding in North Town are not made worse.”