Updated 11/11/2008
The Jubilee River - key facts
Conceived in the 1980's
Purpose - to reduce the risk of flooding in Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton
MWEFAS - Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation Scheme
Takes flood water out of Thames upstream of Maidenhead
Returns flood water to Thames downstream of Windsor (Datchet)
List of Datchet Parish Council objections to MWEFAS - first published May 1992
Public Inquiry into MWEFAS - 1992
Ministerial approval (with reservations) - 1995
Over 400 Compulsory Purchase Orders raised.
Built by the Environment Agency - 1997/2002 approx
12km long, 50m wide man-made channel
Cost-reduction commenced as construction contracts were placed
MWEFAS named 'Jubilee River' in 2002
£110m of your money to build world-class award-winning scheme
Mis-operated and fell apart on first use in January 2003
Diverted floodwater on to defenceless villages downstream of Windsor
Hundreds of households affected by flooding for the first time since 1947
Public Inquiry refused
EA road-show - exercise in spin and obfuscation at public expense.
Flood Risk Action Group whitewash, Thames Flood Forum ceased (EA withdrew funding)
Thousands of households suffer increased insurance costs - to both premium and excess
Some households now unable to obtain property insurance
Revised EA flood maps affect property values
Jubilee River needed £millions in repair costs (estimate - £5m)
Sub-standard design and construction exposed
EA received £2.75m in out-of-court settlement with designers
Jubilee River still unable to carry design capacity of 215 cumecs
Gauge boards submerged
Flood water hazard at Black Potts
Dredging of River Thames (for flood defence purposes) abandoned 1996
Radioactive waste discharged into Thames for fifty years.
Thames Catchment Flood Management Plan - published July 2008
'A monument to EA skills shortage' (Prof Knight in evidence to EFRA C'tee)
The Environment Agency continues to deny liability for this fiasco!!
