My notes in advance of the October 2025 meeting:
(RTS, DHEFIM, MWEFAS, timber footbridges etc)
Thank you for your report. I note that item 2 is the River Thames Scheme and item 4 is the Datchet to Hythe End Flood Improvement Measures.
I realise that the RTS project is currently under review, but I seem to remember requesting the total cost of the LTFRMS and RTS projects to date. I am concerned about both the project cost and the timescales. I think these figures should be revealed to the Committee and properly recorded. There is also the question about the Surrey County Council Partnership funding availability bearing in mind the English Devolution proposals and the current total debt liability – but these answers should come from the appointed Surrey Councillor.
The DHEFIM project was only conceived to fill the gap after the RTS Channel One was removed from the RTS project in July 2020. In my opinion DHEFIM is running ever further behind and is itself at risk. Surely the RTS cannot be a coherent project without DHEFIM – and DHEFIM is at risk from both Partnership Funding issues and English Devolution project. (RBWM has an Extraordinary Council Meeting next month).
Furthermore the 25th Anniversary of the MWEFAS and Jubilee River is less than two years away. The Jubilee River is eating maintenance money. The Myrke embankment is collapsing again – and somebody is going to have to pay for new footbridges – three of which are unusable today. In my opinion it is unacceptable for the EA to design and construct timber foot bridges – and then just absolve themselves of responsibility by passing the bridges to the local authorities.
Then there is the DCO from the Planning Inspectorate for the RTS project. Questions on coherence and partnership funding accompanied by the long list of the Jubilee River sub-standard design and construction issues cannot be helpful.
Finally – the Public Office (Accountability) Bill is going through Parliament now. As a Committee, surely we could/should be leading the way and setting new standards in candour.
END