Flood of ideas

Published 5 Mar 2009 16:30 0 Comments

The Environment Agency wants local authorities, including the Royal Borough, to help revitalise a flooding think-tank.

The Lower Thames Flood Forum, which encompasses areas in Datchet, Wraysbury and Horton, was formed after the 2003 floods but has gradually lost members and focus, only meeting once a year.

Now the agency wants a well attended and focused forum that will improve its approach to flood-risk management, and is working with the Royal Borough and six other local authorities on this.

For a forum to be effective the agency wants the membership to be made up of elected representatives of all local authorities along the Lower Thames as well as nominated officers. It also proposes that the group meets twice a year.

"We want to ensure that The Lower Thames Forum has a focused and committed team of people to protect communities from the threat of flooding," said the Environment Agency's Doug Hill.

"Local authorities have taken on more responsibilities in terms of flooding, and it is essential they are part of any forum.

"By working with them we can make a real difference to how these actions benefit communities."

The agency will continue to work closely with parish councils on problem and discuss concerns from individuals and community groups.

"Our close working relationship with authorities through the forum is an ideal channel to communicate key issues to the wider public, and ensure the whole community is represented," he added.

"The Lower Thames Flood Forum aims to reduce the risk of flooding from Datchet to Teddington. We hope that local authorities take the opportunity to be part of this forum."

A Royal Borough spokeswoman said: "We have responded saying that we would like to participate in the Lower Thames Flood Forum.

"We have a good working relationship with the Environment Agency. They plan to make it a more dynamic and user friendly forum, through the relevant partners working together, and we feel it will achieve that."

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This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 06 Mar 09

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