Sewer flooding meeting
Wednesday September 23, 2009
Residents grilled Thames Water officials about plans to minimise basement flooding in the borough at a public scrutiny meeting last week.
Representatives from the water company updated a meeting of around 20 residents on their proposals for relieving Counters Creek.
The Creek is an old tributary of the Thames, which the Victorians incorporated into the sewer system and now flows underground. It captures most of the borough’s sewage and engineers expect the flood relief scheme – which would increase capacity – to solve the vast majority of sewer flooding in the area.
In times of heavy rainfall Counters Creek handles the majority of the borough’s storm water as well as a large amount of sewage from Camden and Brent. The lack of capacity in the current system means that sometimes foul water ends up flooding low-lying properties. By constructing new sewers the capacity of the network will be increased, which will take sewage away from Counters Creek and reducing the risk of flooding.
Residents at the meeting heard that the £440million scheme will take a minimum of nine years to develop and build. The next step is for Water Regulator – Ofwat – to approve Thames Water’s proposals so that short-term measures to stop flooding can be put in place while the longer-term Counters Creek scheme is developed and eventually built.
Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Environment, says: “It is clear that Thames Water is making progress on this and the pressure from residents – backed by the council – is paying dividends.
“I am convinced that Thames Water is now aware of how big this problem is for local people. The next battle is to convince Ofwat about how many local people have been affected. Residents can help us in this by reporting flooding direct to Thames Water.”
Thames Water admitted that 7,500 basement properties in the borough are at risk of flooding from a ‘1 in 10 year flooding event’. However, only 286 H&F residents complained about flooding after the July 2007 floods compared to 490 in Kensington & Chelsea.
Bob Collington, Thames Water's wastewater director, said “It’s hardly surprising that residents have had flooding problems given the reality of the Fulham flood plain.”
Residents from Askew Road, Boscombe Road, Greyhound Road, Hammersmith Grove and Parsons Green all spoke up at the meeting.
Resident John Brady, from Hammersmith Terrace, said: “The only thing I want to know is what is happening on my street. The long-term plans for nine years away are fine but I want to know what short-term measures are going in place on my street right now.”
If you have been flooded report it now by calling Thames Water on 0845 920 0800. For more information on the Counters Creek scheme visit: www.thameswater.co.uk/counterscreek (opens new window).
