AT A MEETING OF THE BOROUGH COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber – Town Hall – Maidenhead on Monday 11 March 2024 the Council debated the following motion:
59. Motions on Notice
Motion a) regarding minimising the probability of flooding by ensuring that land drainage infrastructure was maintained [in a condition fit for purpose].
Councillor Larcombe introduced his motion as set out in the Council agenda. He referred to the Councillor question about flooding earlier in the agenda stating that the upstream
catchment was about 8,500 square kilometers and once the area was saturated every drop of rain came past here, especially in the winter season. As part of the answer to the earlier Councillor question reference was made to the Section 19 report which was a report on what had happened during the last flooding event and he queried where the report went.
He referred to Councillor Walters who had objected, 30 years ago, to what is now known as The Jubilee River and recognised his efforts to ensure that it was considered by the Planning
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Committee. He recounted that the Inspector had said “it would be very embarrassing for all
concerned if the new channel did not carry its design capacity” and stated that it could not and
never would.
He continued that 20 years later his ward, Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury, repeatedly flooded
every time the gates were opened and highlighted that this was not a natural flooding event but someone was sitting in an office looking at a chart and pressing a button.
Councillor Larcombe described his ward, Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury, explaining that apart from two motorways, two railway lines with two railway stations his patch had the Thames, the Jubilee River, the Myrke which was a designated main river, the Datchet Common Brook, Wraysbury Drain which was a critical ordinary water course, the Horton drain, the Cole Brook which was another designated main river and the County Ditch.
He explained that the area flooded at the beginning of January and they were still flooded today because the ordinary water courses and the channels had not been kept clean and tidy for years. He recognised this was a nationwide and political problem and the issue for Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury was that it was geopolitical because they were at the end of the borough and at the end of the county.
He stated that the legislation was substandard as there was no duty anywhere for anybody to
keep these water courses and the land drainage infrastructure clean and tidy. A Lead Local
Flood Authority resulted from the Floods and Water Management Act 2010 but he queried who they were and what did they did. He reflected on the changes to partnership funding. He concluded that the images shared with the meeting was a road in Wraysbury called Feathers Lane from previous flooding in 2011.
Councillor Werner seconded the motion.
Councillor W Da Costa supported the motion. He reported that recent training on emergency
planning within the borough. He reflected that due to the climate change they were observing
increased amounts of carbon emissions, weather warnings and floods. He stated that he did
not think that the existing plan dealt with the worsening situation. He suggested that it may be
something for the Berkshire Prosperity Board to consider building in resilience to protect
residents, farmland and businesses.
Councillor J Grove commented that the recent flooding event in January had focused attention
on the ongoing and ever worsening risk of flood events within the borough. The water had
behaved very differently this year compared to the floods of 2013 and 2014. The preceding six
months had been exceptionally wet but they could not ignore the deteriorated state of land
drainage systems. As a Council we are looking to the government for funding for a long-term
meaningful flood defence system in the form of a flood alleviation channel e.g. RTS Channel
One. Even if successful this would take years to build but a difference could be made now as
well-maintained land drainage infrastructure were essential to protect the properties,
businesses and possibly the lives of the residents. She suggested that investment was
financially prudent as flooding events were becoming more regular and the cost for recovery
and reinstatement post flooding was increasing. She concluded that she supported the
motion.
Councillor Reynolds agreed that it was really important that not only the infrastructure was
built but it is then maintained so it is fit for purpose. He agreed with earlier comments that land
drainage was also really important as they were aware that green areas in many wards
flooded when it rained. He referred to a number of sites due to be built upon within the
Borough Local Plan and raised concerns that plans to build homes on flood plains and green
sites did not sit well with making improvements to reduce flooding.
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Councillor Howard reiterated the comments about reducing the amount of flood plains, which
slow the transit of water into the river, by covering them in concrete the flow channels are not
maintained. He raised the misery of polluted water coming into people’s houses as the water
mains were leaking and raw sewage was being pumped into the flood water.
Councillor Jones also supported the motion noting that the responsibilities for maintenance of
different land drainage infrastructures lay with different people or
Organisations. She stated that everyone needed to step up and take responsibility because
without everybody maintaining the infrastructure it just would not change.
Councillor Bermanage referred to the council’s ability to serve enforcement notices under the
Land Drainage Act. He advised that the council did not currently have a land drainage
enforcement policy but hoped it was something they would have the resources to develop and
implement in the future.
Councillor Wilson commented on the unpleasant situation in Eton and Castle where raw
sewage had been flowing past residents’ back gardens. Paths and fields had been flooding
due to lack of channel maintenance and grazing land had now designated a wetland because
of poor drainage. He concluded by encouraging the use of local contractors to support the
local economy.
Councillor Moriarty thanked Councillor Larcombe for his continuous work to ensure this issue
was not ignored. The contributions to the debate showed that this issue was affecting different
parts of the borough, even those that were not previously affected. He thanked Councillor
Larcombe for ensuring that resource was put into this area and noted his expertise. He was
pleased so see the motion seconded by Councillor Werner, that Councillor Coe was working
with him and Cabinet members were listening. He understood that creative solutions would be
required and concluded by showing admiration for his determination.
Councillor Coe supported the comments made and added that he had been on site visits with
Councillor Larcombe to view land drainage and the design of the Jubilee River. He reflected
on the difficulties and complications of enforcing maintenance across the number of land and
homeowners. He observed that the Council owed a debt to the voluntary groups that helped
maintain these water courses as the enforcement resources had been removed within the
organisation.
Councillor Walters reflected that he had heard Councillor Larcombe’s lone voice for some
time. He reflected that previous discussions had been lost and he thanked him for bringing the
motion and was pleased to see it supported.
Councillor Reeves mentioned the lack of maintenance of a culvert in Kimbers Lane had
caused flooding which meant walkers had to climb over a fence to continue. He stated that
developers needed to be reminded that when building on affected land they needed to take
appropriate accountability and responsibility for maintenance. He continued that the council
should be ask asking as part of planning conditions that they achieve this critical aim of them
taking responsibility.
Council Werner commented that Section 19 report captures each incident in detail and stated
it would be foolhardy not to use the report as a work in progress to help fix issues. He said that
as council we need to have a plan to help resolve the various issues of the drains and he said
the work had already begun. He referred to the pumping station in Cookham which was
overwhelmed with recent flooding. Councillor Reynolds was leading a campaign against
sewage being pumped into waterways and encouraged everyone to sign his petition. He
agreed that it would be a long process. He agreed that it was so important that the national
government stepped up and dealt with this emergency. He reflected that this infrastructure
issue was the kind of project that the new Berkshire Prosperity Board could support future
growth.
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Councillor Larcombe summed up the debate by stating that the Environment Agency had
failed to maintain the Thames, they got rid of the dredgers, dredger operators and disposal
facilities. He described how dredging was currently carried out. He advised that his petition
had nearly got 1,200 signatures and would be brought to a future meeting. He stated that
people and organisations needed to work together. He commented that there was a lack of
oversight and scrutiny as the Flood Liaison Committee was not a committee of the Council. He
said there was an opportunity for the new Administration to do better. He wanted to see
progress on the Wraysbury Drain as the culvert had not worked for five years. He suggested
that Parish Councils were asked to make an annual report about the quality of their land
drainage infrastructure in terms of water levels, water flows and water quality. Work with
Parish Councils to help identify and communicate with those who were responsible and
enforce when action was not taken.
On the proposition of Councillor Larcombe, Ward Councillor for Datchet, Horton and
Wraysbury and seconded by Councillor Werner it was
RESOLVED unanimously that this council takes immediate action to ensure that the
probability of flooding is minimised by ensuring that land drainage infrastructure is maintained in a condition fit-for-purpose.
The Minutes of the 11-3-2024 meeting can be found here
END