Flood Liaison Group
Tuesday 19 March 2013
ROYAL BOROUGH FLOOD FORUM
19th MARCH 2013
18.00 TOWN HALL, MAIDENHEAD
MINUTES
| Present |  | |
| Cllr Jesse Grey (Chair) | JG | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Councillor |
| Cllr Malcolm Beer | MB | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Councillor |
| Cllr Lynne Jones | LJ | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Councillor |
| Jeanne Capey | JC | Environment Agency |
| Mike Piotrowski | MP | Environment Agency |
| David Perkins | DP | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead |
| Simon Lavin | SL | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead |
| Eric Livingstone | ELi | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead |
| Lisa Morgan | LM | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (minute taker) |
| David Burfitt | DB | Flood Warden Hurley |
| Harry Clasper | HC | Chair of Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Ralph Green | RG | Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Ian Thompson | IT | Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Ewan Larcombe | ELa | Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Fiona Hewer | FH | Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Hilary Murgatroyd | HM | Thames Water |
| Martin Perrin | MPE | Thames Water |
| Andrew Hagger | AH | Thames Water |
| Spencer Whiteley | SW | Thames Water |
| Justin Burns | JB | Windsor Express |
| ITEM | DESCRIPTION | ACTION |
| 1.0 | Welcome & Introductions | |
| 1.1 | JG welcomed everyone to the Town Hall, Maidenhead and asked everyone to introduce themselves. | |
| 2.0 | Apologies | |
| 2.1 | Councillor Carwyn Cox | |
| 2.2 | Councillor Richard Kellaway | |
| 2.3 | Councillor John Lenton | |
| 2.4 | Barrie Mair - Fishery’s Residents Association | |
| 3.0 | Minutes of Previous Meeting (Accuracy) | |
| 3.1 | Agreed as a true record. | |
| Actions from previous meeting | |
| 3.2 | Point 3.3 – SL still to respond with regard to the issue of flood risk and culverts passing under the railway line adjacent to the golf club at Datchet. This matter has however been referred to the EA previously. IT to meet the EA regarding issues experienced at Datchet during the November/December flooding. | SL/IT/MP |
| 3.3 | Point 3.4 – Datchet Common Brook – there are still concerns regarding the situation below Datchet Road Bridge and fly tipping further downstream. This matter to be discussed with EA. | IT/MP |
| 3.4 | Point 3.5 – Date to be confirmed for annual inspection of an Environment Agency reservoir. | MP |
| 3.5 | Point 3.6 – Battle Bourne Tour – date still to be confirmed – MP (EA) to liaise with HC and RG. | MP |
| 3.6 | Point 3.8 – Issue with rapid fluctuations of water levels in the Thames following heavy rainfall in May 2012. This issue has been superseded by Datchet Common Brook. | |
| 3.7 | Point 6.4 – Article was prepared for the National Flood Forum newsletter, no newsletter has been released since last meeting. | RG |
| 3.8. | Point 7.2 – JG to follow and provide update on the Lower Thames Flood Risk Strategy. JG explained that assessments relating to likely environmental impacts are currently being undertaken and that a planning application has yet to be submitted. | JG |
| 3.9 | Point 8.3 – HC stated that a maintenance program regarding vegetation growth in a number of main river watercourses had not been published. RG stated that main river watercourses in Datchet area had been very well maintained this past year. | |
| 3.10 | Point 10.1 – FH stated that no response had been received, regarding The Causeway, at Cookham. Apparently there were a number of pipes built through the Causeway which had been blocked off, and David Ricardo was concerned that this may restrict flows during a flood event. MP (EA) to discuss with FH. SL pointed out that flows had already been restricted just upstream of this point (up to a certain level) by the Strand Lane scheme. | MP/FH |
| 3.11 | Point 10.3 – MP (EA) stated the issue with polish fishermen lighting fires and leaving litter on the Thames at Old Windsor had been passed to the EA fisheries enforcement team. RG stated that similar problems were experienced just downstream of Albert Bridge. It was suggested previously that the Environment Agency’s fisheries team may be able to investigate this and take enforcement action, HC requested an answer as to if action was going to be taken to resolve this issue and also the damage caused at the Datchet Golf Club. MP (EA) confirmed that action would be taken in both of these areas. HC stated that enforcement action needs to be taken at night as well as during the day. | |
| 4.0 | Presentation by Environment Agency following November and December 2012 River Thames flood events followed by question and answer session. | |
| 4.1 | The EA control centre at Wallingford operated 24/7 throughout the November and December 2012 River Thames flood events. | |
| 4.2 | JC and MP (EA) requested feedback and information regarding flooding incidents (with particular emphasis on internal property flooding). | |
| 4.3 | EA currently working very closely with RBWM with regard to surface water issues. | |
| 4.4 | JG stated that we had experienced particularly bad weather conditions during the 2012 winter and encouraged everyone to work together. | |
| 4.5 | FH asked whether flood ambassadors could contact Parish Council’s when operating in their areas during a flood event. MP (EA) agreed that this was a good suggestion, and agreed to raise this / provide feedback. | MP |
| 4.6 | DB requested that flood warnings have message of either flood alert or warning put at end of the message. This feedback will be taken back to EA. MP (EA) commented that a text message can also be sent if relevant numbers provided. | MP |
| 4.7 | E Larcombe asked why the EA had a statutory duty to dredge the Thames for navigational purposes but not for flood defence purposes. JG indicated that this matter had been previously discussed and that he was not prepared to discuss it further at this meeting. | |
| 4.8 | Presentation to be distributed with minutes. | LM |
| 5.0 | Presentation by Thames Water following November and December 2012 River Thames flood events followed by question and answer session | |
| 5.1 | Water table levels were currently extremely high and this had caused a significant number of operational issues throughout Thames Water’s area.. | |
| 5.2 | Thames Water were very keen to capture information via questionnaires or on their website | |
| 5.3 | It was felt that water from Windsor STW had contributed to flooding experienced at Ham Island. TW stated that further investigations were required to establish the flooding mechanism involved and to identify any lessons that can be learnt. | |
| 5.4 | MB stated that residents of flooded properties were not keen to come forward due to concerns regarding future insurance and resale value. JG acknowledged this but moved the discussion along as insurance matters have been discussed at previous meetings and an announcement is still awaited regarding the provision of flood risk insurance in the future. HC pointed out that the current statement of principals expires in July. | |
| 5.5 | Problems experienced in Whtyeladyes Lane were caused by blockages in the system and this has been resolved by Thames Water. | |
| 5.6 | Paley Street – problems were the result of a pumping station failure, capital works to refurbish this pumping station have commenced and will improve the resilience of the station. These works will convert the station to a wet well set up and should be completed by the end of April. | |
| 5.7 | Ham Island – problems arose due to water levels and at no point was any raw sewage discharged into the Thames. Councillor Lynne Jones stated that once Paul Norman from Thames Water arrived on site his work was superb. They had however experienced some problems in contacting the right person which had taken a lot of time and many phone calls. | |
| 5.8 | M Perrin (TW) stated that Ham island has made the short list for bunding work. | |
| 5.9 | HC stated that residents need reassurance and therefore need to know when and where works will be undertaken in the borough? Information to be distributed once supplied by Thames Water. MP (TW) to attend a parish flood group meeting so problems can be discussed in more detail. | |
| 5.10 | Stanwell Road, Datchet – problems caused by blockage on discharge main (rising main) from pumping station near The Lodge. A section of main has been replaced and problems do not appear to have been weather related. | |
| 5.11 | HC stated that a number properties in Horton Road Datchet experienced extensive sewage flooding in the gardens. IT had organised porta loos with SL for the affected residents. HC requested information as to what happened and why, and SL said he was happy to attend a meeting to share his knowledge. HC asked whether a clean up of affected gardens had been completed. Meeting with EA and Thames Water to be arranged. | TW/EA/SL |
| 5.12 | MB raised issue with foul sewers being sealed. AH stated that covers on Ham Island would be looked at. SL asked if the private covers were also going to be sealed and AH stated that the program may extend to the private covers if there are only a small number involved. | |
| 5.13 | E Larcombe requested that places incorrectly stated on presentation be changed. | |
| 5.14 | JG thanked both agencies for attending and for the presentations made. | |
| 6.0 | Parish Flood Group Update | |
| 6.1 | Identification for the 1600 properties that will remain at significant risk of flooding following completion of the Lower Thames Flood Risk Strategy. HC stated that this information would be very useful for the parish flood co-ordinators. DP commented that only 218 are in the Borough. There may also be data protection issues. MP (EA) to provide a response on this issue | MP |
| 6.2 | HC requested information on other types of funding that can be tapped into for flooding. MP (EA) to discuss with Dug Hill and provide a response re funding. | MP |
| 6.3 | FH wanted to thank David Perkins and Simon Arthur for their assistance in developing a web page indicating live flood warnings. The intention is to provide residents with one page including all information relating to current flooding issues. There would however appear to be some issues with obtaining live data from the EA, for inclusion on this web page. FH stated that sign posting did not meet the need of the proposed web page. MP (EA) to discuss with FH and bring details to a later meeting. | |
| 7.0 | Future Meetings | |
| 7.1 | DP stated that next meeting is to be held in the council chamber on 13th June 2013 at 6.00pm. The following two meeting are scheduled for 10th September 2013 and the 17th December 2013. | |
| 8.0 | Any Other Business | |
| 8.1 | IT raised issue with regard to the sewage pollution. MP (EA) stated survey to be taking place. IT and MP to meet up and discuss further. | |
| 8.2 | JG thanked everyone for attending. | |