Agenda item

Update from RBWM

To receive an update from the Royal Borough.

Minutes:

Carolyn Richardson, Joint Emergency Planning Manager gave Members of the Forum a brief update on the following areas:

 

EA Temporary Flood Defence situation. There were currently five being looked at across the Borough flood risk areas. They were being reviewed and remodelled again by the EA to confirm the areas at risk, the benefits and any knock on impacts downstream.  The EA were leading on the project so more details may be available at the next meeting. It should also be noted that there was no guarantee that all, if any, of the communities would get the defences since the equipment were national assets so may not be available if they were already deployed elsewhere in the Thames Valley area, or indeed in the UK.

 

Bisham: As indicated at the meeting Carolyn Richardson had been working with the EA and South East Water (SEW) in relation to some unusual water levels in the Bisham Brook, Hurley. The brook was a Main River and therefore the lead for flood alleviation is the EA. It had been established however, that SEW had stopped pumping water from that area, and as a result ground water levels rose, this may not however have been an issues but a culvert is also blocked which has meant the water was building up. SEW have restarted pumping on notification of the issue until such time as the culvert is cleared. This was a riparian owner responsibility and is being taken up by the EA.

 

Sue Fox, Principal Commissioning Officer stated there was not much to update. The programme for 2018 was progressing and some work was commissioned in Datchet. The Landscape Architect had been in touch regarding the recreation ground ditch to provide advice on stopping further erosion and to stabilise banks.

 

Martin Coker stated the gully in Lower Road needed clearing as it was blocked with debris. Dick Scarff commented that it needed regular clearance. The Principal Commissioning Officer confirmed a number of gullies had been reported to Volker who were instructed to clear them. She had also requested a site visit with one of the Volker engineers. Dick Scarff responded the gullies needed routine preventative clearance. Councillor Kellaway said he had been on a site visit and wished to be included in the outcome to ensure everyone was aware of the progress.

 

Parish Councillor Margaret Lenton stated the saga of the Wraysbury Drain continued. The Borough awarded £185k to clear it but, she was concerned about how much money had been spent as most of it seemed to have gone on consultants, and not the job itself. She added £25k was left and she had asked if the Parish Council could put that towards sluice gates. An engineer had tried to look at them but he couldn’t get access. The Principal Commissioning Officer responded Volker had been out and now had details of the landowner. Legislation was in place to gain access to the sluice and she was in the process to get consent for access.

 

Councillor Beer said there was an understanding that gullies were to be cleared twice a year. The Chairman asked if the clearance would be extended to Old Windsor as well as other areas. Carolyn Richards, Emergency Planning Manager explained to Members that she would become more engaged with Members to get a feel for the issues. She had a meeting scheduled with parishes to get to know and understand areas at risk of flooding. She would be looking at flood plans and community plans.