last updated 28/7/2007  6/11/2008

Thames Region Catchment Flood Management Plan now available!

7/11/08 - Thames CFMP - 'increases frequency of flooding'

Thames CFMP (July 2008) Summary document (138kB .pdf)

Link to Environment Agency - Thames CFMP

Thames Region CFMP Consultation (now closed)

Anybody living or working on floodplain in the Thames catchment upstream of Teddington needs to know that the Environment Agency has issued a consultation document ‘Managing Flood Risk – Thames Region Catchment Flood Management Plan’.

In their summary document the EA claim ‘We maintain the channels to ensure they are free of obstruction and can accommodate high flows’, ‘We carry out regular work to maintain the capacity…..’ and the phrase ‘we will continue to maintain watercourses’ is used.  In my experience these claims are at best just gross exaggerations, with Thames dredging for flood defence purposes abandoned by the EA when they took over from the National Rivers Authority in April 1996.

The consultation document actually refers to a level of protection in Maidenhead of 1:20, which explains the recent astronomical rise in flood insurance premiums.  Ironically that is after the EA spending £110m of public money on their substandard flood alleviation scheme.

Groundwater and other types of flooding are mentioned, as is the use of existing floodplain for attenuation purposes.  I am concerned about the use of the phrase ’the natural flood plain is used upstream and downstream of these areas to accommodate additional floodwater’.  My understanding is that for example, floodwater threatening Maidenhead and Windsor will be retained upstream and/or redirected downstream.  You have been warned!

For a copy of the full consultation document on CD, please contact the EA on 0118 953 5633. 

This consultation closed in April 2007.

 Ewan Larcombe                    Link to Environment Agency Thames CFMP Summary Consultation