An extract from Slough Observer – 12 April 2025 – with minor additions
Concern has been raised that villages along the River Thames could flood without adequate protection.
The Thames villages of Datchet, Horton, Wraysbury and Old Windsor have previously suffered from severe flooding in [2003, twice in] 2014 and the January 2024 flood event.
Jack Rankin, the Conservative MP for Windsor has called for a flood defence scheme to be properly funded by the government.
The River Thames Scheme, as initially proposed, would have protected between Datchet and Teddington from devastating floods seen in [2003, twice in] 2014 and last January.
However, the lack of financial resilience and small size of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead as an authority means that financing Channel 1 through ‘partnership funding’ [was and] is simply not feasible – leaving the villages of Datchet, Horton, Wraysbury and Old Windsor in the Windsor constituency at risk.
[RTS Channel One was removed from the RTS Project in July 2020 when RBWM failed to agree to the required partnership funding contribution]
Mr Rankin made the case to Sir Kier Starmer, the Labour prime minister.
Since then, Mr Rankin has had a meeting with Emma Hardy, the minister for flooding and Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice.
In his meeting with the minister, Mr Rankin reiterated the need to fund Channel 1 as national strategic infrastructure and the importance of managing flood defences holistically to protect these villages.
The minister understood the limitations to the partnership funding model and will be beginning a review in May to explore different approaches, which Mr Rankin confirmed he would feed into “heavily”.
He said: “Preventing the disastrous floods we saw in [2003], 2013/14 and again last January across Datchet, Horton, Wraysbury and Old Windsor is one of my biggest priorities.
“The ‘gap’ in defences caused by the absence of Channel 1 is illogical and damages holistic flood management ahead of significant investment.
“I am pleased that the Flooding Minister accepted that the current ‘partnership funding’ mechanism has limitations locally and welcome a review – which I hope leads to a solution that sees Channel 1 of the River Thames Scheme funded as national strategic infrastructure.
“Time is of the essence. Residents want action to ensure they are protected and I will continue campaigning locally and in Parliament for our villages.”
END