NO CLARITY on when alternative flood defence schemes will be delivered prompted a leading councillor to clash with the Environment Agency (EA).

Members sitting on the flood liaison group heard of replacement plans to reduce flooding and protect properties and businesses in Datchet, Horton, Wraysbury, and Old Windsor.

The Royal Borough is working with the EA to find alternative flood defence schemes with its £10m after it was booted out of the £640m partnership River Thames Scheme nearly two years ago that would have protected homeowners from Datchet to Teddington.

Slough Observer: The original River Thames Scheme before the Royal Borough was booted outThe original River Thames Scheme before the Royal Borough was booted out (Image: River Thames Scheme sponsoring group)

The EA is in the early stages of drawing up plans to deliver a flood alleviation scheme from Datchet to Hythe End that will reduce flooding and coastal erosion in those surrounding areas.

Speaking at the meeting on Thursday, April 21, councillor David Cannon (Con: Datchet, Horton & Wraysbury), lead member for public protection, said they have “seen nothing” in terms of when the scheme will be delivered.

He said: “About over a year ago, we asked for suggested schemes and ideas from local parish councils and local water communities and experts, and nothing has been heard back from the EA or working groups. There doesn’t seem to be any progress.”

Brianne Vally from the EA said they are working “closely” with the council and have a programme steering group that has shared some sort of timeframe that’s within the ‘normal EA project lifecycle’.

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Cllr Cannon criticised Ms Vally for ‘not answering the question’ and the EA for cancelling the last two strategic meetings with the Royal Borough where these concerns could have been addressed.

He said: “We need to know a timeframe. At the moment, what we’re looking at here is very ethereal.

“I understand there’s a process to go through but there are people out there whose homes are at risk, and they are asking us.

“You’re saying you are working with us but we haven’t got the answers because you’re not sharing them with us.

“The project needs to engage with the community and let us know what the timeframes are because at the moment, even yourself by the sound of it, you’re not sure what the timeframe is for this.”

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Victor Freeney, director at Consultancy Services, said he understood Cllr Cannon’s “frustration” on having no timeframes or milestones but said they will give out dates for phase one of developing the project.

However, he said it is “unlikely” that firm dates for the second phase will be given when the EA will be developing a business case for the scheme.

Mr Freeney said: “We wouldn’t want that estimate to be published publicly because what happens then is things take longer, we uncover things that we didn’t foresee, and everybody thinks that the project is slipping and we’re not doing our jobs properly, which is not the case.

“The purpose of the investigation is to find these things out and it’s very much part of business as usual.”

The EA agreed to come back with timeframes for phase one and not to cancel future strategic meetings with the council.