Policy paper

How engagement has informed design of the River Thames Scheme

Published 22 February 2017

Overview

Community and partner engagement is fundamental in developing the proposals for the River Thames Scheme (RTS). The Environment Agency are engaging with communities and partners in the following ways:

• One-to-one or group meetings (e.g. with utility providers, statutory authorities, residents, landowners and Environment Agency technical staff). Over 300 one-to-one or group meetings with communities and partners have been held during the design stage of the RTS

• Written correspondence via a dedicated email account for the scheme which is monitored daily. Although levels of correspondence vary, during busier months the email account regularly receives approximately 40 emails a month

• Public engagement events. A range of drop-in meetings and discussion groups with the public and other partner groups have been held.

Summary of public engagement activities

Event	Date	Number of attendees
Nine public drop ins	August and September 2015	734
1st Berkshire Discussion Group Workshop	September 2015	40
1st Surrey Discussion Group Workshop	October 2015	48
3 weir specific public drop-ins	March 2016	248
2nd Berkshire Discussion Group Workshop	September 2016	36
2nd Surrey Discussion Group Workshop	September 2016	45
Resident surgeries	November and December 2016	371
Downstream Discussion Group Worksop	November 2016	52
3rd Surrey Discussion Group Workshop	December 2016	27

Flood channel alignment

The main changes to the alignment of the flood relief channel were focused on four key areas of uncertainty. An appraisal of the proposed design options for each area, considering a range of social, environmental, economic and technical factors was completed.

Engagement with residents and partners was crucial in the selection of the preferred option. The audiences and engagement methods were different for each area, reflecting the individual circumstances at each location. Key audiences included relevant landowners, operators, authorities and local residents.

The design options were presented to the Surrey and Berkshire Discussion Group members in September 2016 and the participants were able to discuss and document their preferences for the areas. The options were also discussed with landowners, operators and authorities.

Weir design

Three public drop-in events were held in the downstream part of the RTS study area in March 2016 to get feedback on the upgrade options that had been considered at Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington weirs. An appraisal of each option against factors including technical, economic and environmental viability was used to identify preferred options. Feedback from those who attended the drop-in events showed a clear preference towards the preferred options. Of the 101 people who completed a feedback form:

• 76% agreed with the preferred option at Sunbury Weir

• 77% agreed with the preferred option at Teddington

• 100% agreed with the preferred option at Molesey

In addition, 86% of the people who gave feedback supported the general principle of the Scheme. Those who attended the public drop-in events and the Downstream Discussion Group Workshop had the opportunity to comment on the preferred options at the weirs, including opinions on whether or not canopies should be installed. Opinions varied about canopies, but there was a consensus view that there should be a canopy at Molesey and not at Sunbury or Teddington. As a result of this feedback, we have updated the final outline design to include a canopy at Molesey Weir but not at Sunbury or Teddington.

Structure design

Several meetings with Highways England, local highway authorities, Network Rail, and landowners to agree the design and management of structures, such as bridges, which would cross the proposed flood relief channel.

Channel operation

Individual landowners, businesses and Natural England were consulted to agree on the operational procedures of the flood relief channel. From discussions a number of operational features have been incorporated into the design.

Opportunities for enhancement

As well as providing a valuable steer on design development, the community engagement process has also been central to including recreational and environmental enhancements within the scheme.
Workshops with the Surrey and Berkshire Discussion Group in autumn 2015 generated around 160 suggestions of possible opportunities throughout the RTS area. Several suggestions were received from attendees to the nine drop-in events in summer 2015 and the three drop-in events in March 2016. Overall more than 430 suggestions were made.

The information and feedback was used to focus on where and what opportunities to work into the design. Locations which had clusters of popular opportunities were considered as sites for landscape enhancement and habitat creation areas. The design team discussed the feasibility of the potential opportunities with landowners and operators.

Landscape enhancement areas (LEAs)

The design and layout of the LEAs was significantly influenced by feedback received at the third set of Surrey and Berkshire Discussion Groups in December 2016. Attendees had the opportunity to comment on specific aspects of the concept plans for Hythe End, Norlands Lane and Manor Farm LEA. Across the sites, there was general support expressed for the ‘beacons concept’ (i.e. large earth mounds that would provide the public with views across the RTS area), additional public access, open space and access, and the general landscape enhancements, which have been included in the outline design.

Habitat creation areas

The project team met with Heathrow Airport to discuss and agree measures to minimise the risk of bird strike caused by the creation of the flood relief channel and areas of proposed habitat creation. Design parameters were agreed and taken forward into the design. Other measures were recommended to avoid increasing the risk of bird strike. Some examples of the design recommendations carried forward include:

• the removal of existing islands within lakes, for example at Sunnymeads and Wraysbury

• bridging islands on Kingsmead Island Lake

• the design of habitat creation areas

Environmental monitoring

In addition to the design aspects of the RTS, engagement has been key in influencing the type and extent of environmental surveys carried out as well as any traffic management plans that will need to be put in place.

Future engagement

We intend to carry out further discussions with communities, partners and consenting authorities during the preparation of our planning application.