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07 December 2009
Real progress has been made on flooding
It’s sometimes easy to get disheartened in politics. Lots of meetings end in indecision, and lots of proposals never get off the ground. That’s why I’m delighted that agreement has been reached on a series of measures that will help to prevent flooding in Kensington and Chelsea.
Due to a sharp increase in commercial and residential developments, drainage facilities in the constituency have become insufficient. As a result, a number of properties have been damaged by flooding, most notably in 2007.
At the end of November, the water regulator Ofwat gave Thames Water the go ahead to make improvements across the constituency to the tune of roughly £25 million.
The majority of these funds will be used to purchase devices known as ‘flips’. These will be installed at properties that are most at risk, diverting water into sewers that still have unused capacity. These improvements should safeguard those properties that have been struck by flooding on a number of occasions.
The remainder of the funds will be used to lay the groundwork for a major development at Counters Creek. Thames Water now has the resources it needs to better understand the root causes of recent floods, draw up detailed designs for a new development, and secure planning permission. If things go to plan, an application for further funds will be granted in within the next five years, and all three stages of construction will have been completed by the end of the next decade.
These improvements have been a long time coming. Progress has required the appeals of local residents, the expertise of Thames Water, and the favourable stance of OfwatI have had meetings with Thames Water and have been corresponding with Ofwat, pressing for a development project that will prevent future flooding. It is very encouraging that work will be undertaken that should help to achieve that objective.
Cause for optimism after all!
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