This page last updated 2/4/2020
This is the NEW
home page for Jubilee River
Here is a local link to the nearby RIVER THAMES SCHEME HOME PAGE
Click here for the Jubilee River chronological index
River Thames Scheme Funding
(Surrey County Council 21/10/2019)
River Thames Scheme - Funding Doubts - November
2019
The unbelievable
(but true) story of The
Wraysbury Drain
Flood Re - February 2020
The NFPP Political Path
exposing authorities shirking their responsibilities
Also home of the National Flood Prevention Party
........WARNING - RISK OF DROWNING.............THE JUBILEE RIVER IS VERY DANGEROUS........
New emblem for 2019
RBWM Election page and results
Ewan Larcombe next to the Jubilee River
Try a search for 'The Legend of Ewan' on YouTube...!!!
RTS Partnership Funding Issues (added 29/9/2018)
Congratulations - You have reached the (very long) home page of my JR web site (this page last amended 21/10/2018)
This site has grown a bit since 2006 and needs updating - so maybe next year.........
But for now WYSIWYG and to start with I recommend viewing my index here ----- The Jubilee River Story
The Planning Inquiry for the River Thames Scheme (Datchet to Teddington) is delayed due to lack of funding!
You will find an introduction to this web site here and my draft Statement of Case for the RTS Inquiry here
Surrey County Council and a £100m contribution to RTS - or maybe not?
RBWM agree £10m contribution to RTS (September 2017) Too little and too late!
Unfortunately flooding is just the symptom of a problem that requires a political solution.
Jubilee River Website
25/9/2016 - RBWM Flood map issues (link to RBWM site)
5/7/2016 - Datchet Traveller Site refused planning permission by DCLG
UPDATED - 11/2/2016 - River Foss flood alleviation scheme failure!
Error of judgement, incompetence or simple EA negligence?
'Still investigating' - sounds like a cover-up to me!
Maintenance of national land drainage infrastructure neglected.
Yet another reason to leave the EU?
Amended 24/6/2016 - RTS Cost escalation - now £476m with £228m shortfall
Amended 24/6/2016 - River Thames Scheme - Draft Statement of Case
13/12/2015 - A country more flood resilient?
25/9/2015 - RTS proposal comes to Datchet
River Thames Scheme - £50m still required (BBC News Story)
Flooding and flood defence - an independent e-mag.
This independent e-mag was initially created to expose and highlight an unbelievable fiasco of Environment Agency incompetence and failure on the £110m Jubilee River flood alleviation project - including sub-standard design and construction, £5m in repair costs, a £2.75m out-of-court settlement, unable to carry its design capacity and still falling apart. I can now reveal the facts and the truth about sub-standard flood defences nationwide, flood defence failures, neglect of watercourse maintenance (thus increasing the probability of flooding), property insurance difficulties, continuing development on flood plain and related matters of national significance (especially responsibility without accountability) and finally the Environment Agency culture of 'smug arrogance' and neglect of 'duty of care' and their shortage of both engineering and mathematical expertise. Unfortunately in my opinion - when it comes to drainage - the Environment Agency is guilty of benign neglect, can no longer be trusted to serve the nation and is not 'fit for purpose.' The Jubilee River is still the biggest and most expensive flood alleviation scheme ever built in the UK, and having failed to maintain both the Thames and the Jubilee River, the Environment Agency is now planning to spend another £250m of public money on the Lower Thames Flood Risk Management Strategy (Now called RTS (Datchet to Teddington) The project is stalled due to lack of funding but the question is whether the Environment Agency is spending our money on cost-effective solutions? Please read the Jubilee River Story and judge for yourself! Click here for the Jubilee River guided tour and here to contact me
Did you know that the 'Control of Horses Act 2015' came into effect in May 2015?
As the owner or occupier of land you now have the power to detain and /or dispose of horses that are there without permission.
Link to Election Page - May 7th 2015
Complete with current draft flyers, supporting information and results
HERE COMES THE £300M EA's RIVER THAMES SCHEME.....AND THEY ARE AFTER YOUR MONEY.
March 2015 - River Thames Scheme - RBWM to contribute £285,000 per annum (Partnership Funding)?
To find out what's in the JR section............. the Jubilee River Story
To view and sign e-petition on flood prevention......... Now closed
Click here for the real....... Jubilee River guided tour.
Letter to the Prime Minister dated 16th March 2015 and response dated 30th March 2015)
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY HAS NO LEGAL DUTY
TO MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE THE CONVEYANCE CAPACITY
OF DESIGNATED MAIN RIVERS THAT ARE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ?
THEREFORE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAIN RIVER CAPACITY ?
TRY ASKING YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT WHEN YOU NEXT SEE HIM/HER......
NEWS - 19/1/2015 - A 'Sir Philip' letter revealing potential Galliford Try and Black & Veatch joint venture issues
5/11/2014 - Datchet Traveller Site going to Public Inquiry in June 2015
29/10/2014 - The Black Potts Footpath
2/10/2014 - Dear Sir Philip.....
29/9/2014 - Couple still living in front garden
NEWS - September 2014
Following the two River Thames flood events downstream of Windsor in January and February this year (2014), the Prime Minister visited for a photo opportunity. He promised help. I know he has other important issues on his mind but here we are again – abandoned - just like we were in 2003.
Recommendations made in 2004 were not implemented and in my opinion use of the Jubilee River yet again to protect Windsor, Eton and Maidenhead simply made matters worse downstream. Operating the Taplow flow control structure at night in order to hide the ‘step variation’ in the water level is both sneaky and underhanded. Protecting Windsor and Maidenhead by pressing buttons to divert and dump floodwater onto undefended areas downstream is both unnatural and intolerable. Somebody somewhere gives orders to open gates – but still they hide………and they do not listen. Do they even care?
You might like to know that I have sent this e-mail to Sir Philip Dilley – the new Chairman of the Environment Agency who took up the appointment on 8th September 2014. I think Sir Philip would benefit from a guided tour of the areas flooded and also personal contact with flood victims in order to comprehend the life-changing consequences of flooding. May I look forward to welcoming Sir Philip to my area? If you would like to let Sir Philip know what is (or is not) happening in your area his e-mail address is Philip.Dilley@environment-agency.gov.uk
Ewan Larcombe - amended 2nd October 2014
p.s - There are some interesting stories relating to flooding in the pipeline - please be patient..........
NEW 20/6/14 External link to RBWM Traveller Needs Survey (Closes 18th July 2014)
Winter Floods 2013-14 - House of Commons EFRA Committee - 17 June 2014
Updated 2014 Thames Flood event report - What Really Happened? - Jan/Feb 2014 Updated
NEW Government Policy Paper - River Thames Scheme - June 2014 (external link) NEW
Old (from 2005) but .... Maskirovka (misinformation) is alive and well
NEWWater Act 2014 (Insurance)NEW
NEW River Thames Hydrograph Issues NEW
As for dredging - this is splendid example of polotics (the practice of kicking alternative policies around indefinitely in the hope that the problem will eventually go away)
1 May 2014 - RBWM Planning Application 14/01370/FULL
Land At Datchet Common Horton Road Datchet Slough
The use of land as a gypsy and traveller site consisting of 9 x pitches, 5 x utility buildings, play area, warden's office and associated works.
http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/pam/view.jsp?ID=14%2F01370%2FFULL
NEWS Public Inquiry complete except for summing up - 12 June 2015
Link to Datchet Common Community Group
17 July 2013 - RBWM Planning Application 13/02024/FULL - WITHDRAWN April 2014
Land At Datchet Common Horton Road Datchet Slough
The use of land as a private gypsy and traveller site consisting of 10 pitches, 5 utility buildings, play area and associated works.
link to application: http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/pam/view.jsp?ID=13%2F02024%2FFULL
(link to RBWM e-petition to withdraw Datchet site)
NEW - EA report on flooding - River Clwyd (Glasdir Estate - Ruthin) in North Wales
St. Asaph and Ruthin flood event - who was responsible?
E-Petition Have you been flooded? Do you live or work in an area at risk of flooding? I believe that the drainage infrastructure (and in particular main rivers) has been neglected thus exacerbating flooding. We should establish a Royal Commission on Land Drainage (last held - 1927) to examine whether the capability of existing catchment drainage systems meet both current and future needs. Global warming and climate change is the subject of current debate. We have no control over precipitation in terms of timing, quantity or geographical distribution but we do have the option to maintain and/or improve the land drainage infrastructure in order to reduce the probability of flooding. Please follow the link below to sign the e-petition
- Link to HM Government e-petition to establish a Royal Commission on Land Drainage -
Click here for the Jubilee River guided tour.
--- How to view River Thames river levels on-line ---
COMING SOON - The Jubilee River - 10 years since opening plus a challenge to the EA
The Jubilee River: Flood alleviation or flood creation scheme?)
Social justice and the future of flood insurance (283kB.pdf)
Look out - here comes 'Staines under Thames'
Cuts delay £300m River Thames flood protection!
View 'For and against the LTFRMS'
Public Accounts Committee quizzes Dr Leinster
Cuts threaten millions with risk of flooding - October 2011
Thames Hydropower - The Queen goes green?
So what's going on here then? A slurry dip maybe?
End of flood insurance subsidy?
Myrke embankment and ditch - still a mess!
West Cumbrian floods due to poor dredging?
Lord Hanningfield loses appeal
NEWS -The Natural Environment White Paper
Flooding and flood defence - an independent e-mag.
This independent e-mag was initially created to expose and highlight an unbelievable fiasco of Environment Agency gross incompetence and failure on the £110m Jubilee River flood alleviation project - including sub-standard design and construction, £5m in repair costs, a £2.75m out-of-court settlement, unable to carry its design capacity and still falling apart. I can now reveal the facts and the truth about sub-standard flood defences nationwide, flood defence failures, neglect of watercourse maintenance (thus increasing the probability of flooding), property insurance difficulties, continuing development on flood plain and related matters of national significance (especially responsibility without accountability) and finally the Environment Agency culture of 'smug arrogance' and neglect of 'duty of care' and their shortage of both engineering and mathematical expertise. Unfortunately in my opinion - when it comes to drainage - the Environment Agency is guilty of benign neglect, can no longer be trusted to serve the nation and is not 'fit for purpose.' The Jubilee River is still the biggest and most expensive flood alleviation scheme ever built in the UK, and having failed to maintain both the Thames and the Jubilee River, the Environment Agency is now planning to spend another £300m of public money on the Lower Thames Flood Risk Management Strategy. (Now called River Thames Scheme) The question here is whether the Environment Agency is spending our money on cost-effective solutions? Please read the Jubilee River Story and judge for yourself!
PUBLICATION OF SPECIAL REPORT:
Future flood and water management legislation: Government Response to the First Report from the Committee, Session 2010–11
EA Guide to Managing Sediments in Watercourses
Lord Hanningfield - trial and sentence
The Natural Environment White Paper - Call for evidence by 21 June.
Horton & Wraysbury Ward - May 2011
election results
EA invitation to generate green energy from Thames weirs
River and reservoir flood maps - Horton & Wraysbury
7/4/2011 - Elliot Morley pleads guilty
25/3/2011 - The National Flood Prevention Party launched
David Chaytor loses jail sentence appeal
The Bosham Flood Prevention Strategy
Former MP Jim Devine sentencing set for 31 March
The Morpeth flood insurance model
Lead local flood authorities running out of time for PFRA submission
23/2/2011 - David Chaytor to challenge prison sentence
Firm fined £385,000 for Corporate Manslaughter
Departmental Expenditure Limit (2010-11) Defra = £2,801,004,000
EA flood schemes progressing in 2011/12
Flood wardens resign - Maurice Sines involved
---- The Flood Prevention Society ----
See the Cookham to Datchet map published by Lewin, Fryer and Partners in November 1991
--- View Thames river levels on-line ---
EA Head Office - come across as a bunch of cocksure know-it-alls! - Steart - and Ian Liddell-Grainger - 12 January 2011
This fiasco is somebody else's problem - all I need to do is continue steadily publishing the truth!
The Jubilee River Story - an unbelievable fiasco of gross incompetence and continuing cover-up -
- The Rise and Fall of the Jubilee River - Simply nothing to celebrate here!
(with chronological index including latest News)
Latest info - MPs expenses - Trial dates
David Chaytor - 3 December 2010 (pleaded guilty - sentenced to 18 months)
David Chaytor to challenge sentence (appeal lost)
Eric Illsley - January 11 2011 (pleaded guilty - resigned as MP - sentenced to 12 months)
Lord Taylor - January 25 2011 (pleaded not guilty - found guilty and awaiting sentence)
Jim Devine - February 2 2011 (pleaded not guilty - found guilty and sentenced to 16 months on 31 March)
Elliot Morley - April 11 2011 - the blame game
Lord Hanningfield (aka Paul White) was 13 December - new date to be fixed?
Thames Hydropower at Windsor - £1.7m
Defra Consultations 43/10 and 44/10
Elliot Morley and others - Old Bailey - Court 11 - 26/11/2010
17/11/10 - Flood insurance issues
14/10/10 - Quango cost cutting - changes to Environment Agency
7/7/10 - Dates set for six Parliamentary expenses fraud trials
Have you been post coded? Are you having trouble getting flood insurance or being charged vast amounts for premium and/or excess? Please click here for an alternative! We would honestly like to hear from anyone who has been quoted a vast premium and or excess.
Dr P Leinster's (EA Chief Exec) remuneration (2009/10) = £205,477
Jubilee River - MAP (EA) 163Kb.pdf
What's wrong with the Jubilee River?
26/5/10 - WANTED - Information about blocked and polluted watercourse please!
Jubilee River 'a monument to EA skills shortage'
The'Big Society' speech by PM David Cameron
Asset value of English flood defences = not less than £30bn
13/7/10 - Anne McIntosh MP asks about implementing EU Directive 2007/60/EC (Hansard)
9/7/10 - Cuts put £14.9m flood defence work in doubt (Oxford Times)
Environment Agency to be reviewed (Hansard)
Flood Risk Regulations 2009 - European Commission starts legal proceedings....
Explanatory memorandum to the FLOOD RISK REGULATIONS 2009 No. 3042(260kB.pdf)
25/1/10 - The Slough Weir saga exposed
FRR2009 - a warning to lead local flood authorities....
The first preliminary assessment maps and the first preliminary assessment reports for each river basin district must be published before 22nd December 2011 - then further information by December 2013 and 2015.
Caroline Spelman MP for Meriden, Secretary of
State for Environment
e-mail: spelmanc@parliament.uk
Flood and Water Management Act 2010
'In my opinion this new legislation (FRR 2009 and FWMB 2010)
could have done more to ensure that watercourses were properly maintained
- thus reducing the probability of flooding' (Ewan Larcombe).
Do you live near a raised reservoir or dam?
Defra Consultation: Ministerial direction for reservoir flood plans
Do you live in an area liable to flood?
Please see - Ewan's Simplified Guide to the new Flood Risk Regulations 2009 No 3042
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to protect our canals by not selling off property owned by British waterways. Submitted by Ian Rees – Deadline to sign up by: 19 November 2010 – http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/protectourcanals/
Lords call to revoke the Flood Risk Regulations 2009
The Flood Risk Regulations 2009 No. 3042 - in force 10/12/2009
Two interesting stories (complete with pictures) that could easily have been fatal:
River Hull Flood Action Group and contact details
“We know the Jubilee River works, there is no question about it. Nonetheless, the Atkins reviews do raise important concerns that the Environment Agency is addressing with urgency.” (Chris Birks - EA Thames region director - August 2004)
The EA empire builders continue to give excuses and deny responsibility for flooding, yet demand more money, power and influence without being accountable to the people who pay their wages! Some of the EA are the nicest, most helpful people that you could ever want to meet, but there are others that are smug, arrogant and complacent and I have no confidence that these office-bound button pushers (tied by flawed policies, hindered with conflicts of interest and supported by the longest list of excuses that you have ever seen ) are capable of doing the right job right, or supporting the national interest. I do hope that a new Government will soon take a long hard look at the EA (Ewan Larcombe - a personal view)
Elliot Morley to face criminal charges on 26 November
7/7/10 - Three former Labour MPs and a Tory peer have started an appeal against a ruling that they should stand trial over their expenses.
11/2/10 - Elliot Morley says he is being denied 'natural justice' (Telegraph)
5/2/10 - Elliot Morley MP to face criminal charges
5/2/10 - Elliot Morley and the 'blame game' (Hansard -March 2003) From the archive!
Promoted by Ewan Larcombe, 67 Lawn Close, Datchet SL3 9LA
Tel: 01753 544302 web www.nfpparty.org e-mail ewan@nfpparty.org
Eurostar Independent Review (February 12, 2010)