The River Thames Scheme project costs more and falls ever further behind. I need to highlight my serious concerns about the contents (or not) of the RTS Update paper number 5.
While the report writers clearly know their subject, I would suggest that the majority of people know little or nothing about the RTS. Very briefly my concerns are as follows:
· The report omits 2003, 2014 and 2024 flood events and that the RTS dates back to 2008 via the LTFRMS. Downstream of Datchet is at ever-increasing flood risk.
· The report omits RTS expenditure to date (£100m+)
· The failure of the previous partnership funding policy led to the removal of RTS Channel One
· The new partnership funding policy excludes the RTS
· The project configuration is still undetermined
· Defra and HMT will have to approve any new business case
The programme indicates that the submission to the Planning Inspectorate may now occur in Summer 2028 with Examination in Spring 2029.
THE BOTTOM LINE – This project is at risk. We failed to learn the lessons from the MWEFAS project. Much time and big money has been spent on this project. RTS Channel One was removed in 2020 and replaced by the DHEFIM project that appears to have stalled. In my opinion the RTS project is incoherent, planning approval not guaranteed, and any previous commitment to partnership funding contributions is questionable. So who may will be held accountable here?