It looks like we are heading towards yet another failure of the partnership funding process for flood defence projects. This process failed dramatically in mid-2020 when RBWM was unwilling or unable to afford the required partnership funding contribution towards the River Thames Scheme (RTS) project that had in fact been running since 2003. In July 2020 RTS Channel One was removed – leaving the project ‘incoherent’. The two Borough Councillors dithered and did not seek re-election in 2023. Three independents Ward Councillors were elected and the Council Leader lost his seat. Eventually RTS One was replaced by the Datchet to Hythe End Flood Improvement Measures project but today this and the RTS are paused for ‘mid-project-review’. My view is that – for multiple reasons – the RTS and DHEFIM projects are at risk.