Our petition
Demand against the Environment Agency for the mismanagement of our River Thames
Started - 17 January 2024, by Debbie Russell
Petition to - Environment Agency
I am a descendant of a five-generation boat building family on the River Thames at Chertsey, an area naturally prone to flooding.
Over the last 15 years, I have witnessed firsthand the devastation that controlled flooding brings to communities along our river, especially those towns below Windsor.
Since the Environment Agency took over the management of the UK waterways in 1996, these communities have faced repeated and devastating floods due to ineffective flood defence strategies and insufficient river maintenance.
The ongoing mismanagement and lack of transparency of the Jubilee River Relief Scheme has exacerbated this situation.
The neglect of the River Thames has become one of the reasons the natural flow of the waterways has changed, with overgrown banks that are reducing the flow and narrowing the river, silt banks reducing volume and many obstructions such as trees and sunken boats along the river and weir streams.
All of these factors as well as the Jubilee River adding to an already overburdened River Thames below Windsor.
The Jubilee River Relief Scheme was never going to be able to assist as a flood defence as its already a river, not an empty flood drain, that would be ready to take the overflow from up stream.
Its not finished so will always have impact if you bring it back anywhere in the non-tidal Thames.
It is just another River adding extra water to the already over burdened River Thames currently below Windsor.
The neglect in maintaining and managing the River Thames is not just affecting our livelihoods but also causing irreversible damage to our homes and environment.
An environmental disaster for everyone, even those that don't live by a river, with flooded houses being stripped of their furnishings, which have been soiled with flood water containing sewerage, all filling landfill sites.
It's high time we address this issue head-on and demand immediate action from those responsible.
We urge you to join us in demanding that the Environment Agency take immediate steps towards effective flood defence strategies and proper maintenance of the River Thames.