DR BEN SPENCER MP
I am absolutely delighted that on 10th June DEFRA and HM Treasury announced they had approved the outline business case for the River Thames Scheme. After the 2014 floods, and the anxiety and stress each time river levels have risen since, hundreds of families and businesses across Runnymede and Weybridge will be delighted that the detailed local work can now begin to deliver greater flood protection.
The River Thames Scheme, which will be delivered by the Environment Agency and Surrey County Council, in partnership with our local borough councils, will see two new flood relief channels constructed at Runnymede and Spelthorne, together with capacity increases at Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington weirs and the Desborough Cut.
This really is fantastic news for our communities, as in addition to increased protection, the Scheme will also deliver new community spaces, wildlife habitats, improved infrastructure, and investment and jobs to the local area. The approval means the local design and planning work can now begin. Vital to this will be a series of public consultations on the detailed plans. Because of the importance and impact of the Scheme, it is essential that local residents have their say, and I will be publishing updates, including details of public consultations when available, on my website here :
https://www.drbenspencer.org.uk/campaigns/river-thames-scheme
This announcement is a huge milestone for the project, but we must keep the momentum going and ensure all efforts are made to deliver the Scheme and the protection it provides as soon as possible. I will continue to work closely with DEFRA, the Environment Agency, Surrey County Council, our borough Councils and local residents to drive this forwards.
Since being elected as your MP in 2019, I have focussed on addressing issues of flooding as it is one of the biggest local needs. The River Thames Scheme is the best single measure to tackle this, but I am also working to address issues of sewage flooding and surface water flooding to protect our flood plains and address issues around flood insurance. I am working with resident groups, including Chertsey Bourne Flood Group and if you would like to know more about my work to tackle flooding issues, please visit
https://www.drbenspencer.org.uk/campaigns/better-protection-flooding
or email me at ben.spencer.mp@parliament.uk