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Floods: Greater London

Volume 489: debated on Tuesday 17 March 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many flood risk management projects (a) in Greater London and (b) on the Essex coastline his Department has identified for implementation. (263588)

The Environment Agency’s Thames estuary 2100 strategic tidal flood risk management plan for the Thames estuary will show what actions are needed to manage flood risk through to the end of the century.

In the Greater London area there are a total of 51 capital flood risk management schemes ongoing or planned to start within the next five years ranging in value from £100,000 to £11.4 million and significantly reducing flood risk to over 72,000 properties.

The major capital schemes taking place in London are:

Thames Barrier and Associated Gates Improvements

Bermondsey and Deptford—Deptford Creek Tidal Frontages

Barking and Dagenham—Tidal Sluice and Pumping Stations

Salmons Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme (Enfield)

Cobbins Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme (Waltham Abbey)

The Environment Agency has a number of flood risk management projects that are at varying stages of implementation on the Essex coast. One scheme that has just been completed is at Jaywick which cost £10 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what flood prevention plans are being implemented around the Isle of Dogs. (263589)

The Environment Agency is producing a strategic tidal flood risk management plan for the Thames estuary through to the end of the century—called Thames Estuary 2100. This includes the future management of the Isle of Dogs tidal defences and the Thames Barrier which provide protection to the area.

The Environment Agency has worked to raise awareness of tidal flood risk in the Isle of Dogs and presentations have been provided to members of the business community in Canary Wharf. A flood exercise has been developed for the Financial Services Authority based on a breach in the Canary Wharf area to test emergency plans.

Discussions on tidal flood risk and its impacts on transport in the area have been held with Transport for London, London Underground and Docklands Light Railway, and members of the community have signed up to receive the Environment Agency flood warning service.