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MORE ABOUT US

R4ABC (Residents for a Better Chard)

Started in May 2021 to prompt a more holistic look at what is happening in Chard, particularly (in their view) at how  spectacularly bad some of the planning for “regeneration work” was and how shallow some local development ideas are.

 

Stop Flooding Chard

Was started, “to do what it says on the tin”, as a result of the June 2021 floods. The aim was to seek help to stop flooding in the future, rather than get into a vicious cycle of mopping up. Sandbags appeared to treat the symptoms but no tangible progress or help on stopping the causes.

 

A meeting of these two forces, now working in collaboration to promote CARG, came together via the public gallery of a Chard Town Council meeting and some other wayward meetings that lacked focus. It soon became clear that, especially for flooding incidents, individuals – even individual communities – are unlikely to be successful if they try to go it alone.

 

We now have the CARG “umbrella organisation” comprising local, skilled and professional people from the communities, Councillors of differing party politics or no party working together, Parishes and developing collaboration with our local neighbours in Ilminster. With support from the Somerset Rivers Authority, we have recently extended this collaboration to include the Local Lead Flood Authority (LLFA), Civil Contingencies. Wessex Water, South Somerset District Council and Somerset County Council.

 

Since April 2022, we have harnessed a considerable community-wide force for good.

 

We continue to push for solutions, not just sticking plasters as a temporary measure, whilst striving to assist those in incident difficulties and distress. May be worthwhile short term but, in our view, not a long-term solution.

Why have we constituted our organisation (CARG)?

 

Likely factors we have identified (this list is the tip of our iceberg):

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  • A lack of drive and desire from local Authorities to resolve identified problems

  • The problems affect our community and, on the current critical path, are likely only being made worse

  • Neglect of waterways and highway infrastructure 

  • Outmoded farming practices where education and grants can be a positive help

  • Urbanisation through new developments and proposed roads

  • Hard paved surfaces coming before adequate design and checks for matters such as storm water run off 

  • Heavier rainfall with climate change, an inevitable way of life unless we address current practices and thinking.

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