{"id":696,"date":"2024-02-27T15:34:14","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T15:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=696"},"modified":"2024-02-27T15:34:14","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T15:34:14","slug":"the-river-thames-scheme-consultation-is-missing-the-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=696","title":{"rendered":"The River Thames Scheme Consultation is missing the point!"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is an email about the River Thames Scheme Consultation<\/strong><\/span> received from John Douglass 27-2-2024<\/p>\n

Restore, maintain and improve the existing drainage<\/span><\/strong>
\ncatchment BEFORE the construction of the new RTS Channels
\nWhether you agree or disagree with the new planned River
\nThames Scheme (RTS) surely it makes sense to make the best
\nof what we already have?
\nWraysbury and Datchet badly need the Wraysbury Drain
\nrestored. There is sewage and impurities being discharged
\ninto the streams and rivers. Restoration and dredging have
\nceased. There is flooding to local businesses and homes due
\nto poor urban drainage and no ongoing maintenance.
\nReading the RTS feedback form there is much being made of
\nthe construction of the new channels and the benefits in
\nterms of biodiversity and recreational facilities for the
\ncommunity, for example provision of biodiversity, play areas,
\nmotorboat hire and showering facilities (all listed as options
\namongst others within the RTS scheme literature), but no <\/span>
\nmention of the maintenance and restoration of the existing <\/span>
\ninfrastructure<\/span> which comprises the many small rivers, drains
\nand ditches of the Thames Valley. A comprehensive study
\nwould also surely reveal potential improvements for example
\ninstallation of underground pipes to improve drainage at
\nstrategic points.
\nRestoration and improvements to what is already in place can
\ndeliver improvements to flood resilience far quicker than the
\nconstruction of the new channel and because the existing
\nchannels are distributed across the many small water courses
\nthe risks of flood and damage associated with a single point
\nof failure at the RTS scheme channel exit are greatly reduced.
\nWhy is this not a priority for the RTS scheme?
\nIt may be argued that the Environment Agency is responsible
\nonly for fluvial flooding and Surrey County Council is the Lead
\nLocal Flood Authority responsible for surface water and
\ngroundwater drainage, so the parcel passes between the two.
\nBut SCC is a partner and main contributor to the RTS scheme
\nusing our ratepayers\u2019 funds; they are both sat round the same
\ntable! So why can\u2019t a coherent scheme be drawn up to
\naccommodate both the catchment drainage and the RTS
\nscheme in one plan, with a suitable schedule to deliver the
\nmost immediate results. SCC also has the necessary statutory
\npowers to issue enforcements to landowners to clear ditches
\nwhere appropriate.
\nThere is another scheme being drawn up called the \u201cThames
\nValley Flood Scheme\u201d (TVFS) it is in the early stages of
\ndevelopment but include objectives such as:
\n1\/ Improved urban drainage
\n2\/ Flood water transfer
\n3\/ River restoration
\n4\/ River deepening and widening.
\nVery much in line with what I am proposing. So why can\u2019t the
\nrelevant objectives of the TVFS be incorporated into the RTS
\nscheme? If there is funding for wetlands, play areas and
\nmotorboat hire then then there is funding for improvements
\nto the catchment drainage and hence improvements to flood
\nresilience.
\nThere is a public consultation in place at present which closes
\non the 4th March at midnight. If you share my view that the
\nmaintenance, restoration and improvement of the existing
\nriver and drainage system is more important than provision
\nof biodiversity, play areas, motorboat hire and showering
\nfacilities (all listed as options amongst others within the RTS
\nscheme literature) then fill in the RTS feeback form (available
\nonline here<\/a><\/span><\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.riverthamesscheme.org.uk\/consultation<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Let you views be known before the deadline of 4th March midnight.
\nJohn Douglass
\nDate: 27th February 202w<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is an email about the River Thames Scheme Consultation received from John Douglass 27-2-2024 Restore, maintain and improve the existing drainage catchment BEFORE the construction of the new RTS Channels Whether…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nThe River Thames Scheme Consultation is missing the point! - DHWNEWS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=696\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The River Thames Scheme Consultation is missing the point! 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