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Sub-standard hydraulic modelling?

Posted on January 20, 2024January 21, 2024 by ecwlarcombe

The Public Inquiry into the MWEFAS planning application was held in Reading – October/December 1992 and reported in 1993

Here is an extract from the expert view of the Assessor: P Ackers – M Sc(Eng) FCGI FICE MIWEM MASCE – on the hydraulic models used to justify the scheme.

A scan of the original section of the report is produced below.  For a digital copy of the full Public Inquiry report, please contact me.

An extract from 1992 Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation Scheme Public Inquiry – Report to Minister.

  1. Further aspects of hydraulic performance

15.1. It would be very embarrassing to all concerned if the intended discharge capacity of the FRC (1) was not achieved.  Thus the hydraulic computations are particularly important, and in this context the sensitivity of the channel to the roughness coefficients used and the method of dealing with two-stage channels implicit in the modelling are dominant issues.

This is the largest fluvial flood alleviation scheme ever to be carried out in the Thames region, and any deficiency in capacity would bring wide-spread – and justified – criticism. 

It would be the largest man-made river to be created in the UK with full regard to the latest policies regarding environmental enhancements.

The question of the flow capacity likely to be obtained is not an issue that can be clouded over in the hope that design tolerances could later explain away any deficiency.  It is my firm view that there is no room for retaining optimistic assumptions in the hydraulic design:  in view of the novelty and scale of environmental enhancements proposed, some conservatism, some consideration of tolerances on assumptions is necessary.

Assessor: P Ackers – M Sc(Eng) FCGI FICE MIWEM MASCE

END

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DATCHET

The name "Datchet" is thought to be Celtic in origin, and the last part may be related to cet ("wood"). In the Domesday Book it is called "Daceta".lla. Datchet is first mentioned between 990 and 994, when King Ethelred made small grants of land here.

HORTON

The village name "Horton" is a common one in England. It is Old English in origin and derives from the two words horu 'dirt' and tūn 'settlement, farm, estate', presumably meaning 'farm on muddy soil'.In the Domesday Book of 1086 it was recorded as Hortune.

WRAYSBURY

The village name was traditionally spelt Wyrardisbury; it is Anglo Saxon in origin and means 'Wïgrǣd's fort'. Its name is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Wirecesberie and as Wiredesbur in 1195. The name is seen again as Wyrardesbury in 1422.

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