Last month I joined a team of River Thames Scheme (RTS) project leaders from Surrey County Council and the Environment Agency to visit the Runnymede sites that are proposed to be used for the vital flood alleviation project.
The River Thames Scheme is a huge project, DEFRA’s biggest national infrastructure project that spans across my constituencyOn my visit as well as discussing the works, we discussed many of the potential proposals for environmental, wetland and biodiversity sites alongside the scheme.
Crucial is that people get the change to feed into the potential options for the landscaping of the scheme: The RTS team have begun the first of two parts of the necessary consultation required to get the scheme over the line – the non-statutory consultation is currently underway. As part of this, the RTS team have several constituent engagement events in the local area including pop-up information stands at:
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Thursday 10 November, 11am to 3pm, Tesco Extra, Brooklands, Weybridge
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Thursday 24 November, 11am to 3pm, Aldi, Chertsey
There will also be larger public consultations in the constituency that are open to all local residents:
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St John’s Church, Manor Farm Lane, Egham. 22nd November 1-7pm
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St Peter’s Church, Windsor Street, Chertsey. 7th December 1-7pm
Please do pencil these dates in your diary and come along to have your say on this very important flood alleviation scheme.
The RTS team informed me that they intend to formally submit the planning applications in Autumn 2024 having carried out the necessary consultations. I am working with all local stakeholders – SCC, the EA and Runnymede and Elmbridge borough councils, as well as the Government – to ensure that the timetable is kept to and the Scheme is delivered as soon as possible. While a major national infrastructure project on one of the largest undefended floodplains in the country will naturally take some time, and all local stakeholders must be given their chance to have their say, I know the fear and anxiety that living with the threat of flooding can bring, and will continue to push for getting on with and delivering the scheme as soon as possible.
You can get official updates from the RTS website here: www.riverthamesscheme.org.uk/
And you can follow my work on delivering the RTS on my website here and by signing up to my newsletter at www.runnymedeandweybridge.news
