2 Eton Close

DATCHET

Berkshire

SL3 9BE

 

18^th February 2009

 

Lord Smith of Finsbury

Chairman - Environment Agency

Millbank House - 25^th Floor

21-24 Millbank

LONDON SW1P 4XL

 

Dear Lord Smith

 

POINTS OF CONCERN REGARDING DEFECTS EXPERIENCED WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM AFFECTING DATCHET AND OTHER THAMESIDE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE ROYAL BOROUGH OF WINDSOR AND MAIDENHEAD

 

During this recent event over the past week the Environment Agency flood warning system has been shown to be inadequate, confusing, misleading and clearly not fit for purpose to provide the service to the community for which it is intended.

 

Clearly, there is no continuity of the warning system or comprehension by the EA of the water levels diversely affecting sections of the River Thames.  The attached document EA Flood Warning System dated 16^th February 2009 sets out some of our experienced defects.

 

The location of the Jubilee River confluence with the River Thames requires warnings to be provided to the Datchet community of any intended Taplow Gate movements and water volume releases, together with predicted Thames water levels and arrival time at Datchet for the safety of the community and the notice of the possibility of activating the Community Flood Emergency Plan.  For example, a recent prediction provide by the EA via the Royal Borough regarding the flood peak arrival at Datchet was approximately 18 hours earlier than occurred and when it arrived coincided with an earlier gate release at Taplow giving rise to a superimposed river level height which raised water levels between Windsor and Staines unnecessarily to the detriment of Wraysbury and Old Windsor who were not on Flood Warning and Datchet was not informed of the changed situation.

 

Flood Wardens from Datchet, Wraysbury and Old Windsor have stated their concerns that no progress has been made regarding last year’s agenda items that the EA were to address and have not been implemented.  Additionally, the following issues raised at the last Thames Flood Forum meeting in September 2006 are unresolved and outstanding against the EA:-

 

1.     Early warning of the Taplow Sluice movements and their expected influence on projected water levels and times at Datchet due to the critical flooding affect on this point of discharge from the Jubilee River.

 

2.     Change of Flood Warning board colours to traffic light indication for easy distance public identification.

 

3.     The EA to issue accurate flood maps based on the 2003 flood event relating to 410 cumex flow in the River Thames between Windsor and Staines.  The recently released flood maps of Old Windsor and Wraysbury are inaccurate and could result in misinformation regarding flood warning levels being advised.

 

4.     Issue the updated operating instructions for the Jubilee River to local flood wardens.

 

On a point of record:

 

With regard to flooding risk to East Datchet it was noted that the uncontrolled outfall from the Common Brook at Wraysbury was back flowing Thames River water into East Datchet, preventing outflow and therefore adding to water levels in the area due to backing up of water within this watercourse.  It is a matter that both Datchet and Wraysbury Parish Councils have previously raised with the EA regarding flooding risk to residential properties, public utilities and road and rail communication.

 

The requirement to set in place a robust flood warning system that has the communication ability to provide accurate and timely information from the EA through the Flood Warden network is a very high priority and critical to vulnerable communities, which at present clearly does not exists within this section of the River Thames.

 

The EA state that they are ‘managing flood risk’.  The attached sample emails from flood wardens, a councillor and a resident clearly show that this is not the case.  The lack of response from the EA to the Flood Wardens’ issues is demoralising and counterproductive to protecting the communities.

 

In order to redress this situation we require the EA, the Royal Borough, Councillors, both Parish and Borough and the community representation groups be convened within an ongoing continuance of the Thames Flood Forum as the lack of meetings since 2006 has demonstrated how the EA have disengaged from the practical public interface of the river flood risk management within this section of the River Thames.

 

There are many aspects within this letter that relate to recommendations listed within the Pitt Report.  However it is felt that the way forward is to progress the current issues in a flexible prioritised manner through the TFF.  Therefore, we request your cooperation and direction to provide necessary resources and facilities to assist the communities and yourselves to achieve results within the issues currently outstanding.

 

Your response to this letter is awaited with interest.

 

Yours sincerely

 

IAN THOMPSON

 

Member of Thames Flood Forum

Committee member CSG South Committee

Representative ThamesAwash

 

Attachments:

1.     EA Flood Warning System 16.2.09

2.     Peter Mills            email resident

3.     John Lee email Old Windsor Flood Warden

4.     Malcolm Beer Old Windsor Councillor

 

CC:

Riverside MPs

River Thames Society

Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

Runnymede Borough Council

Spelthorne Borough Council

Community Support Group South

ThamesAwash