Contents 1.0 FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT 1.1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 1.2 Winter 2012 Floods 1.2.1 Maidenhead Windsor and Eton FAS 1.2.2 Temporary defences in Windsor 1.2.3 Old Windsor 1.2.4 Datchet 1.2.5 Wraysbury 1.3 Recovery Projects 1.3.1 Taplow Washout 1.3.2 Cookham and North Maidenhead Flood Wall Repairs 1.3.3 Black Potts Washout 1.3.4 Eton End School Bund, Datchet 1.3.5 Bund Removal, Datchet 1.4 Community Engagement 1.4.1 Cookham Parish 1.4.2 Bisham Flood Alleviation Scheme 1.4.3 Datchet 1.4.4 Wraysbury 1.4.5 Ham Island 1.4.6 River Level Data and ‘Parishes Live’ 1.4.7 Environment Agency.Gov Website Live 1.5 Insurance Related Information 1.6 River Maintenance 1.7 River Bed levels surveys 1.8 Flooded Land at Little Common Farm, Eton Wick 1.9 Flood and Water Management Act 2.0 PLANNING 2.1 Planning Charge 2.2 Maidenhead Waterways Restoration and Town Centre Regeneration 2.3 Travellers Site - Datchet 2.4 Bray Road Maidenhead – proposed school 2.5 RBWM Borough Local Plan 2014 Preferred options consultation 2.6 Position Statement for replacement dwellings 3.0 WASTE 3.1 Brayfield Farm 3.2 Horton Brook Quarry – Colnbrook 4.0 HYDROPOWER 5.0 WATERWAYS 5.1 Speed and Wash campaign 5.2 Waterways Volunteers 5.3 Magna Carta Celebrations 6.0 WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE 7.0 WATER RESOURCES 1 OFFICIAL 1.0 FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT 1.1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment We recently met to discuss the River Thames Scheme (Datchet to Teddington), which is included in the Royal Borough’s SFRA. Discussions took place surrounding land allocations and waste and mineral sites located in the vicinity of the planned diversion channel from Datchet to Hythe End. It is imperative that these key locations remain free from planning consents that may inhibit the construction of any flood alleviation works. We are looking to work with the LPA and their consultants WSP to develop ideas surrounding ‘sustainable dry islands’. These areas, where development cannot be approved for access and egress purposes, but remain safe during the most extreme flood events (taking into account groundwater, surface water and fluvial flooding) could be used as areas for safe refuge and evacuation. 1.2 Winter 2013/14 Floods This winter we experienced the second most significant flooding on the Lower Thames since 1947 Throughout the flooding we worked in partnership with local authorities, Thames Valley Police, Army, Fire and Rescue, Ambulance and Public Health. We set up a tactical operations centre within the RBWM offices until Silver Command was opened within the Thames Valley Police offices in Windsor. 1.2.1 Maidenhead Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation Scheme The impacts of the winter floods were reduced in the Maidenhead area by the operation of the Maidenhead Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation Scheme which includes the Jubilee River. The scheme protected approximately 1,000 properties in the areas of Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton from flooding. We made the first Jubilee River gate movement on Christmas Eve 2013. On the 9 January we issued a Flood Alert for the River Thames from Maidenhead to Windsor and Eton which stayed in force until the 15 January. We re-issued this alert from 8 February until 24 February. We monitored the operation of the Jubilee River scheme from early January 2014 until early March 2014 to ensure the scheme was working correctly and stayed within the operating limit. On the 10 March we restored the Jubilee River to its normal flow of 10 cumecs. During the operation of the Jubilee River, 48 Gate movements were made at Taplow Weir. Three pumps were used at the confluence of Myrke Ditch and the Jubilee River. This is part of our response when we operate the Jubilee River: we pump water from Myrke Ditch into the Jubilee. This prevents the Myrke Ditch flow from backing up. Cookham Defences, also part of the scheme, were operated on the 27 December 2013 by closing the flood wall gates and pumping out from behind the wall in eight pre-defined locations. This was to reduce the impact of leakage behind the defences. While we were doing this, our staff carried out daily monitoring of the flood wall and pumps. 2 OFFICIAL 1.2.2 Temporary defences in Windsor In both January and February, we sent our Ambassadors and Flood Data Recorders to the Windsor and Eton area to provide advice and monitor the flooding situation. We advised on locations for temporary defences, and on the 11 February, in Windsor, Armed Forces erected temporary sandbag walls to fill gaps in the wall around Barry Avenue and the railway viaduct. The temporary sandbag wall was designed to protect approximately 770 properties in a flood event with a 1 in 33 (3.3%) chance of occurring in any given year; however, river levels did not reach those forecast and the defence was not called into action. 1.2.3 Old Windsor In December, we did not need to issue Flood Warnings for Old Windsor, and there were no reports of property flooding in this area. By January, river levels were high and continued to rise into February, reaching their highest levels since 1947. On the 5 January and the 3 February, we issued Flood Warnings for properties closest to the River Thames at Old Windsor, from Friday Island to Magna Carta Island. This gave advance warning to owners of the properties that flooded on each occasion. On the 9 January and again on the 9 February we issued Flood Warnings for the wider area in Old Windsor. On 9 February we also issued a Severe Flood Warning for both warning areas. No further property flooding was reported in January but five properties flooded in February from the River Thames or through the fluvial gravels. In both January and February, our Ambassadors and Flood Data Recorders were in the Old Windsor area, providing advice and reporting back on the local situation. 1.2.4 Datchet We issued the first Flood Warning for Datchet on the 7 January. This was for The Properties closest to the River Thames from Black Potts Bridge to Albert Bridge. On the 8 January we issued a further Flood Warning for the remaining properties at risk in Datchet. In February, flooding affected the area again. We issued a Flood Warning to the properties closest to the Thames on 6 February, then to the wider area in Datchet the following day. As the flooding continued to escalate, we issued Severe Flood Warnings for Datchet on 9 February. That day, we erected temporary sandbag walls along Southlea Road and Mill Place, once our engineers had worked with the local authority on determining where to site them. We organised the delivery of sandbags whilst the Army and Fire Service erected the defences. Later that night, we found a leak at the bottom of a brick boundary wall in Southlea Road. The following day, we reinforced a 50m length of it with one-tonne bags. Further improvements were made to this sandbag wall during the following days. It was designed to protect approximately 620 properties in a flood event with a 1 in 33 (3.3%) chance of occurring in any given year. We based our defences on river level forecasts at the time. 3 OFFICIAL On 10 February, flood water reached the centre of Datchet village via the railway line. Rail plant and access to the breach was provided by Network Rail as the line had already been closed by flooding. Temporary repairs were carried out by multi-agency partners on 13 and 14 February. Later in February, our Ambassadors helped at the Flood Assistance Centre that the local authority organised. Since the flooding, the information we have received indicates that one property flooded internally in Southlea Road during January. In February, 28 properties were flooded from the River Thames or through the fluvial gravels. The most affected roads were Priory Way and Slough Road. 1.2.5 Wraysbury We issued our first Flood Warning on the 5 January to the Properties closest to the River Thames at Wraysbury from Old Windsor Weir to Magna Carta Island this was sent again on the 3 February. We sent a further Flood Warning on the 8 January and the 9 February to the remaining properties at risk in Wraysbury. By mid- afternoon on 9 February, we also sent two Severe Flood Warnings for the whole of Wraysbury. During January, five properties were reported as flooded: the worst affected roads were Ferry Lane and The Avenue. As part of the multi-agency response, we provided more than 15,000 sandbags for distribution to individual households in Wraysbury. Some deliveries were sent straight to Wraysbury under police escort. Other shipments were delivered to the Tinkers Lane depot and Berkyn Manor Farm. We also helped ensure the public had basic rations delivered to their homes. We sent our Flood Data Recorders and Ambassadors to Wraysbury in both January and February. In February, our Ambassadors also assisted at the local authority’s Flood Assistance Centre. During February 73 properties were flooded either by the River Thames or through the fluvial gravels. The worst affected areas included Hythe End Road, Ouseley Road, Wharf Road and The Island. 4 OFFICIAL 1.3 Recovery Projects 1.3.1 Taplow Washout During the 2013-14 flood event, scour occurred on the right and left banks immediately downstream of Taplow sluice. This scour started to occur following the 2012 winter flood event but worsened during this recent flood.