PRESS RELEASE

05/12/2006

Thames Flood Forum (TFF) members have welcomed progress towards a new strategy for managing flooding on the Thames between Datchet and Teddington and on the Chertsey Bourne – but 'devastated' to discover there will be no Government funding in the foreseeable future to allow much-needed work to go ahead.

At their meeting in Spelthorne Borough Council Offices on Wednesday of last week (29 November) members were told by Environment Agency Area Manager Peter Quarmby that intensive investigations over the past year had confirmed a two-component strategy was feasible.

Component 1
Building partnerships [between the agency, local authorities and communities] to manage the floodplain more by:

• Improving community preparedness through better warnings, local flood action plans and knowledge of how to make properties flood resilient.
• Development control to protect land needed for flood flows and to ensure that where building on the flood plain cannot be avoided, floor levels, construction and arrangements for dry access are appropriate.

Component 2
Engineering three new diversion channels between Datchet and Walton and community-based protection measures downstream of Walton at a cost of some £200 million – possibly deepening the Thames through Staines if conservation problems can be solved.

Component 1 projects could be agreed by 2008 and completed by 2010 if the Regional Flood Defence Committee authorises funding. Engineering projects will be reviewed in 2010 if money can be obtained for final investigations.

TFF chairman Tom Crossett said there was general welcome for the progress being made. However he added:  "We were devastated to learn that the engineering track is unlikely to be funded by Government in the foreseeable future. We believe it is outrageous that the largest undefended flood zone in England and Wales, containing nearly 30,000 people, should remain under threat with residents finding it ever more difficult to insure homes and businesses."

TFF is taking urgent action to set up a group to investigate ways of funding the strategy and to lobby Government and others who might be able to help. 

Mr Crossett said: "It is a great relief to know that there are technical solutions to many of our flood problems, but outrageous that they cannot be funded. We shall be making a strong case to Government and others. Meanwhile, we would be grateful if anyone with ideas on funding would get in touch. £200 million sounds like a lot of money, but does £259 per head per year for 10 years sound better?"

TFF was pleased to learn that the Environment Agency was going to have an external review of operating procedures for the Jubilee River and looks forward to the result.