LTFRMS Mtg notes

Dear ThamesAwash Committee

The RBWM Parishes Flood Liaison Group

Cllr Colin Rayner

Wraysbury Parish Council

Datchet Parish Council

Old Windsor Parish Council

Adam Afriyie MP

Jubilee River Website

Please find below Ian Thompson’s notes on the EA consultation meeting held at Datchet Village Hall on 23^rd October 2009.

Should you wish to discuss the content of these notes please do not hesitate to contact Ian direct.

With many thanks for your help.

Kind Regards

Gillie Bolton (Mrs)

ThamesAwash Committee Member

Lower Thames Strategy

Notes of EA consultation meeting held at Datchet Village Hall on 23^rd October 2009

Contacts: Innes Jones EA, Doug Hill EA, Clive Malcolm EA

1) I thanked Innes Jones of the EA for providing the Halcrow Survey and dredging back history from 1947 of Datchet, Old Windsor and Wraysbury reaches of the River Thames. A presentation of this data was provided to members of the RBWM parishes Flood Group by ThamesAwash.

2) I asked Innes Jones for the intended cumex diversionary flow within the Datchet channel. He referred me to Doug Hill. Doug was unable to provide this information and Graham Piper, the EA project manager was unavailable for this and the Wraysbury meetings. However, Doug will provide the full Halcrow survey from Teddington to Hurley and the full Lower Thames Strategy Scheme and a draft management document which is being submitted to Defra.

Receipt of these documents will enable the RBWM Parish Flood Liaison Group to issue the Halcrow Survey details to the relevant riverside parishes within the Royal Borough.

With regard to the intended diversionary flows within the proposed Datchet Channel Doug considers that at this stage that information may not have been compiled and thus the reason why Mr Piper was unable to supply it at the exhibition. By issuing the full scheme documentation the position regarding this information can be followed up by email accordingly.

3) Clive Malcolm of the EA provided a disk – Lower Thames Flood Risk Management Strategy to me at the meeting. Again thanks were expressed to Clive. The disk provides Halcrow data relating to the survey sheets which we did not have previously.

4) A question of major concern expressed by many people was:- Did the EA intend to cease carrying out any small local improvements to increase flood protection and resilience prior to commencing the diversion channel, which could be 20 -25 years hence, if it does proceed at all? Doug Hill confirmed that local improvements were required and where possible will proceed on the cost benefit basis to be judged on the national need basis relative to the UK regions by Defra. These proposals will be prepared by local regional offices and will be ongoing and separate from the Lower Thames Study programme.

5) Flood event telemetry readings throughout the River Thames will be made available by the EA via their website. A vital service for riverside communities and individual householders allowing residents to evaluate their personal property flood risk.

6) The EA intend to consult more widely in future with waterside communities and residents in order to gain data on river performance especially where lifetime waterside experience has been gained, but not recorded. Details of how and when this intention is to be implemented are to be advised.

7) The Myrke Ditch embankment at Datchet is currently suffering extensive surface covering failure. The EA do not consider that following the legal contractual path, which entails cost and delay is the way to resolve the problem and therefore monies that could result in abortive costs is being diverted directly into rectification works.

8) The course of the proposed channel through east Datchet is at this stage indicative only. The final path through Southlea is not yet fixed. Any channel located in this area will be subject to archaeological investigation. The proposed channel is through the Royal Estate and poses a viability risk to the operation of Southlea Farm.

9) Further to the problem previously recognised by the EA regarding the flooding risk posed by the Common Brook and its outfall to the River Thames to east Datchet and north Wraysbury, the EA was advised that the dwellings situated along Horton Road were not connected to mains drainage and this fact will now be considered in any local flood protection scheme and must be considered in conjunction with the proposed channel engineering.

10) A question posed by residents within Beaulieu Close currently backing onto Southlea Farm fields voiced concerns regarding intended construction and the effects of the scheme regarding any detrimental influences upon existing groundwater conditions. The intention of the EA is to construct ‘soft’ embankments to the channel in the location. However, further surveys will be probably be required to determine exact groundwater conditions, which may result in engineering changes.

The view of the writer is that at the end the expected cost relevant to 25 years ahead would be expected to lie between one and one and a half billion pounds.

Ian Thompson

ThamesAwash