The Myrke embankment in Datchet has never been right – and the EA is about to spend more money on this never-ending problem. Can they get it right this time? I am not confident.
The Myrke embankment was constructed to contain and convey flood water at a level above the adjacent land while protecting the nearby houses. The embankment did not work because both the embankment and the underlying gravel are permeable. As the flood water rises it just comes up through the drains.
The Myrke embankment in Datchet was originally constructed from ‘as-dug’ material around the turn of the century (1995-2002). The embankment was on the brink of failure in 2002/03. On first use of the Jubilee River at only 2/3rds capacity the embankment suffered severe water penetration and scouring.
This is how the embankment looked in 2004 after the first flood event and before the reconstruction. You can see the excavators working on the far end.
The urgent remedial works (£1.3m) are a matter of record (see the notice)
Big equipment required here!
Towards the end of the 2004 reconstruction works
Below – the geo-textile reinforcement is exposed and awaiting covering.
Below is the embankment in December 2004 after the application of 4,000 sq. m of specially grown turf
Below: July 2005 – and the embankment looked like this
The embankment has degraded steadily over time with the geo-textile reinforcement increasingly exposed.
Here we are in 2025 – and the Myrke embankment needs fixing yet again!
CONCLUSION: sub-standard embankment design and construction, £1.3m repair costs, an out-of-court settlement, and still the embankment steadily degrades.
THE QUESTION: Can the EA get it right this time?
ANSWER: We will have to wait and see
END