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The Jubilee River story - The flooded footpath at Black Potts problem.

The arch in the Black Potts viaduct is used for the public footpath was never designed to convey flood water.

The Atkins Jubilee River Hydraulic Review (July 2004) - pages 7 and 13 make this clear.

The public footpath runs on the Datchet bank adjacent to the Jubilee River and through one of the arches beneath the Black Potts viaduct that was constructed in the mid 1800's and then modified between 1996 and 2002 with the construction of the channel.  The conveyance capacity of the channel is reduced due to the addition of protection and cut-waters.  Consequently flood water leaves the channel and overwhelms the public footpath at a very early stage in the flood event.  Furthermore sub-standard hydraulic modelling submitted in evidence at the 1992 Public Inquiry led to reduced actual channel conveyance capacity and 'afflux' which results in embankment overtopping.  There are further images of the flood walls on the next page - Uneven flood walls at Black Potts

The fast moving flood water leaves the channel and scours the unprotected surfaces.  This Public footpath is also a Health and Safety issue that has arisen as a direct result of constructing the channel.  It should be noted that the Environment Agency no longer benefits from Crown Immunity.

Image below - January 2008 - flood water leaving Jubilee River at Black Potts and travelling via the public footpath.

View looking downstream

Image below - January 2008 - flood water leaving Jubilee River at Black Potts Weir and travelling via the public footpath.

View looking upstream