§ Mr. Trewasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on the design of the down-stream flood defences associated with the Thames Flood Barrier; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Peter MillsImprovements to the downstream flood defences associated with the Thames barrier will be under-taken by the Greater London Council, the Essex River Authority and the Kent River Authority, as appropriate. Some design work is in hand; in other cases, the authorities concerned are still reviewing the existing defences to see what improvements are required.
§ Mr. Trewasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the total cost of the down-stream flood defences associated with the Thames flood barrier; and what proportion will be borne by public funds.
§ Mr. Peter MillsThe total cost of the improvements to the downstream flood defences associated with the Thames barrier is provisionally estimated to be in the region of £77 million, at current prices. This can be only a tentative estimate, since design of the works has yet to be completed. On a capital cost of £77 million, grant-aid would amount to £57 million.
§ Mr. Trewasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of privately owned river frontages in the 20 miles downstream of the Thames flood barrier; and what arrangements are being made with the owners to raise their flood defences to provide for the reflected wave effect of the barrier.
§ Mr. Peter MillsThere are about 70 frontages protected solely by private flood defences within the area likely to be affected by the reflected wave caused by closure of the barrier, all on the southern shore of the estuary. The Kent River Authority is reviewing the existing Thames defences within its area to see what improvements are called for in connection with the barrier, and discussions are, where necessary, being held with the frontagers concerned.
§ Mr. Trewasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated completion date for all down-stream flood defences associated with the Thames flood barrier.
§ Mr. Peter MillsThe Greater London Council and the Essex and Kent River 135W Authorities plan to complete, before the barrier becomes operational, the necessary improvements to the downstream defences for those areas of comparable importance to London and those areas where there is appreciable risk of loss of life or damage to property. The authorities concerned have given repeated public assurances to this effect.
§ Mr. Trewasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on the design of the Thames flood barrier; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MillsThe Greater London Council and its consulting engineers are now involved in the detailed design of the barrier and, subject to enactment of the Thames Barrier and Flood Prevention Bill, it is hoped that the first contracts will be let before the end of 1972.
§ Mr. Trewasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest estimate of the cost of the Thames flood barrier; and what proportion will be borne by public funds.
§ Mr. Peter MillsThe total constructional cost of the Thames barrier is provisionally estimated to be in the region of £39 million, at 1971 prices. This can be only a tentative estimate, since the barrier is still in the design stage. On capital cost of £39 million, grant-aid would amount to £25 million.
§ Mr. Trewasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the expected starting and completion dates for the construction of the Thames flood barrier.
§ Mr. Peter MillsSubject to enactment of the Thames Barrier and Flood Prevention Bill, it is hoped that the first contracts for the barrier will be let before the end of 1972, and that the barrier itself will be commissioned in time for the 1978-79 flood season.