Thames Awash chairman calls on local government to plug funding gap for Lower Thames Scheme Flooding in Datchet
A flooding campaign group's chairman has called on local councils to 'get real' about funding for the Lower Thames Scheme.
Chris Bertram, chairman of Wraysbury-based Thames Awash, made the comment following the Government's Autumn Statement on Wednesday, December 3, which earmarked £60m for the scheme from 2021.
Once built, the £256m Lower Thames Scheme will help to protect 15,000 households between Datchet and Teddington, but Thames Awash believes £51m still needs to be found for the scheme to go ahead.
Ham Island resident Chris said: "Now is the time for local government to get real about finding the funds to get the Lower Thames Scheme built and to challenge utilities and business to contribute as well.
"In fact, it would be tantamount to negligence for councils to continue to do nothing. The reality is that since last year's disastrous floods practically nothing has been done to reduce the flood threat or to make our infrastructure more resilient to flooding."
The Royal Borough has signed a pledge along with six other local authorities and the Environment Agency to push for further funding from central government for the flood prevention scheme.
The councils have also agreed to draw up plans to work with other agencies, local enterprise partnerships and the business community to seek to close any funding gap that remains following the Autumn Statement.
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