To receive the above verbal update.

Brianne Vally, Environment Agency, provided and update to the Group:

·         The Thames catchment received 15% of the average rainfall for January and river flows were decreasing at all sites. Monthly water situation reports were available on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-situation-local-area-reports.

·         Up to 55mm of rainfall in the Thames catchment took place on 23 and 24 December 2020 on saturated grounds, which led to a rapid rise in water levels. On 22 December 2020, the catchment received 130% of the average rainfall for January. There was increased rainfall following this due to Storm Bella on 28 December 2020.

·         On 28 December 2020, there were 13 flood warnings and 34 flood alerts in the area, and the Environment Agency (EA) Incident Room was virtually operated from 23 December 2020 until after the New Year. Community Information Officers were deployed in Maidenhead to monitor river water levels.

·         The Jubilee River was operated up to 50 cubic metres per second in the main channel on 27 December 2020. Normal operation resumed on 31 December 2020, as and when there was a fall in the Thames water levels. The EA was reviewing the incident to ensure they were prepared for future flood events.

·         There were two phases to the Black Potts Weir work. The first phase was to remove damaged grout mattresses and install sheet piling to protect the weir and main structure and moved the pontoon closer to the weir. The second phase of work included bed reinforcement using heavy rock armour; the design and quantity of rocks was to be finalised. An update on work was to be circulated to Members, which would explain why the work would be longer than the original March 2021 deadline.

·         In 2021, the EA would continue to work on the future flood risk management in the borough, with Parish Council’s involvement as and when appropriate.

·         An updated flood modelling evidence of the Colne was likely to be published in Spring 2021 and engagement around the Colne Strategy looking at options to reduce flood risk in the Colne area was likely to start about the same time.

·         A consultation on the flood risk management plan to deal with flood risk management was likely to take place in Summer 2021, where Members would be invited to provide their feedback.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Datchet Neighbourhood Plan, asked if the structural examination of the embankment adjacent to Black Potts Weir was taking a place and was mandatory. Brianne Vally said the works at Black Potts are being designed and delivered at pace, therefore evidence on the ground is still being gathered to inform the final design. It is unclear if the evidence gathered also relates to the embankment. Brianne to find out.

ACTION: Brianne Vally to inform the Chairman if potential structural examination of the embankment adjacent to Black Potts Weir was to take place.

The Chairman said there was a perception that the Jubilee River was operated at the end of the day during the festive period, which led to the rise in water levels in Wraysbury overnight. Boat owners were unaware of the weir’s operation and were concerned they would not be able to access or move the boats. He asked if it was possible to operate the weir in the morning and Brianne Vally said it could not be guaranteed that the weir would only be operated in morning, as the gate movement took place when the EA pre-empted water increases. Notifications on the Jubilee River could be accessed by signing up to Maidenhead flood alerts and following ‘Environment AgencySE’ on Twitter. Brianne Vally said she would inform the EA to review notifications arrangements and consider providing communication tailored to boat owners.

The Chairman suggested Brianne Vally to advise the team managing Maidenhead flood alerts to also alert downstream areas that would be impacted from the operation of the Jubilee River.

(Councillor Bowden joined the meeting.)

Mike Williams asked what the time delay was between operating the control at Taplow and receiving water in Datchet, and Councillor Larcombe said this was approximately 4 hours, dependent on the speed of waterflow.

Councillor Larcombe asked if how he could receive an unredacted version of the agenda and minutes and was advised to contact David Bedlington, the Environment Agency.

Ian Thompson said he was concerned about the railway tunnel near the borrow pit which needed protection. The east bank of Black Potts weir had eroded, was shallow, and the bank had slid back into the borrow pit. The borrow pit had the same level of flood water as the water in the River Thames.

ACTION: Brianne Vally to review if there were plans for the railway tunnel near Black Potts east bank.

Ian Thompson asked if the level boards by the telemetry stations and upstream of Black Potts weir would be replaced, as they had either been washed away or rotted. He also requested for commonality of river level measurements, so that there was a better understanding of the levels and better predictions could be made.

ACTION: Brianne Vally to review the level boards upstream of Black Potts weir and commonality of river level measurements.

Brianne Vally said there were several apps which provide levels that were in metre AOD and on the EA website on levels, which would be recirculated to Members.

Councillor Brar asked if there was an update on the safety of the Cookham Weir and the Group was informed that the Cookham Lock repair work had started on 4 January 2021 and was due to end on 12 March 2021.

The Group noted the item.