The Environment Agency has launched a major new consultation on the approaches being considered to manage the risk of flooding across the Thames Valley.
As well as sharing initial investigative work on different ways of managing flood risk, the consultation will also provide details on the scope of the strategic environmental assessment, which shows how social, economic and environmental factors guide the Agency’s decisions.
Joe Cuthbertson, Environment Agency Project Director, said:
“As well as investigating a range of approaches for flood reduction measures, the scheme is committed to ambitious improvements to the environment, habitat and biodiversity.
“To really make this scheme work for the Thames Valley we also need to understand what is important to communities and local businesses. I would urge all those who live, work and visit the Thames Valley to get involved in the consultation.”
The Thames Valley flood scheme will investigate managing the risk of flooding, for those who live and work in the area, as well as recognising the increasing impacts of climate change and supporting communities where it has not been possible to provide a local scheme.
The approaches being investigated include:
- large scale floodwater storage in a range of locations
- natural flood risk management measures such as creating wetlands, improving soil, crop management and planting trees to help retain or slow water
- engineered flood risk management solutions including flood alleviation channels.
Over the years the Environment Agency and its partners have put major efforts and funding into developing and implementing new flood alleviation schemes throughout the Thames Valley.
The schemes reduce the risk of flooding for many of those living, working and visiting the area. However, there are locations where it has not been possible to develop a local flood scheme, including cases where it is not technically feasible or where it wouldn’t provide sufficient value for money.
Many communities continue to remain at risk of flooding and vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Scheme to adopt catchment wide approach to mitigate increasing flood risk due to climate change
The Environment Agency said that by planning now for the future, the Thames Valley flood scheme is adopting a catchment wide approach to mitigate the increasing flood risk that climate change will bring.
The scheme will complement existing and planned local flood alleviation schemes. It aims to provide an increased level of climate resilience across the Thames Valley and significantly reduce flood risk over a very large geographical area.
The catchment for the scheme covers the entire length of the River Thames upstream of London to its source in Gloucestershire, and all the rivers that flow into it.
The Environment Agency said that a scheme of this scale can only succeed if it works in partnership across the catchment, and with the support of local communities. It will require funding from a range of sources; as well as central government it is likely to need funding from multiple partners and beneficiaries.
The vision is to develop a scheme that:
- reduces flood risk throughout the Thames Valley
- enhances the environment
- grows the economy
- supports sustainable growth
- improves health and wellbeing for rural and urban communities
Deadline to respond to the public consultation is now 20 August 2021 – click here to access the consultation online.
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