A meeting to discuss flooding locally was held on 6 June 2014, at St Mary's Parish Hall in Lower Sunbury. It was chaired by Surrey County Councillor Tim Evans. Kwasi Kwarteng MP and several Spethorne Borough councillors were also present. The meeting was very well attended by local residents.
The purpose of the meeting was:
For the Environment Agency to present its plans to reduce flood risk in the Lower Thames area (Datchet to Teddington) as part of its Lower Thames Strategy. To provide information/discussion about Flood Re, the flood reinsurance scheme due to be introduced in July 2015.
David Murphy for the Environment Agency explained that the Lower Thames Strategy will involve large-scale engineering work, including:
- capacity increases to Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington weirs
- widening and deepening the Desborough Cut
- building a flood diversion channel between Datchet and Shepperton
This created a lively discussion and many questions. A view was expressed by residents that EA modelling of flood risk in Sunbury is inaccurate given that flooding had occurred in areas where flood warnings were not issued.
Kwasi Kwarteng MP gave a short address about Flood Re. He explained that the Water Act 2014, which received Royal Assent on 14 May 2014, sets out the framework for introducing the scheme. The scheme will create a not-for profit fund to cap the cost of insurance for people at high risk of flooding. The cap will be based on Council Tax bands, starting at no more than £210 per annum in Bands A and B, rising to £540 pa in Band G.
At the end of the meeting, Tim Evans summed up proceedings. He noted that that residents are concerned that the Lower Thames Strategy will have minimal advantages for Sunbury compared to other areas. He stressed that the scheme does not have funding or planning permission yet, and highlighted the importance maintaining an ongoing dialogue between residents and relevant stakeholders about flooding issues.