HC Deb 19 March 1997 vol 292 cc627-8W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the estimated cost of the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton flood alleviation scheme at the time that the plans were first put out for public consultation; and what is the current estimated cost of the scheme. [20947]

Mr. Boswell

Following the local public inquiry held in 1992, the cost of the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton flood alleviation scheme was estimated to be £73.4 million—on a fixed price basis. The Environment Agency's current estimate is some £83 million, which includes nearly £9 million for projected inflation. The costs will be partially offset by income from the sale of sand and gravel excavated from the flood relief channel.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of households that will be protected by the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton flood alleviation scheme, once it has been completed. [20949]

Mr. Boswell

The Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton flood alleviation scheme is designed to provide protection from a one in 65 year flood event for 12,500 people, 4,800 domestic properties and 700 commercial buildings locally. In addition, the presence of the scheme will help to prevent disruption of roads and railways and the loss of communications systems and public utilities over a much wider area.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated completion date for(a) the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton flood alleviation scheme and (b) the subsequent landscaping. [20948]

Mr. Boswell

Work on the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton flood alleviation scheme is expected to be finalised before the end of 2001, and the main flood relief channel should be completed by the end of 2000. Landscaping is being carried out in parallel with the construction works and should be finished within the same, overall time scale.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration has been given in the plans for the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton flood alleviation scheme, to the effects of the lowering of the water table, lower average rainfall, and climate change on the likelihood of flooding in the area, and the volume of water which will flow though the new channel. [20950]

Mr. Boswell

These aspects have been fully considered by the Environment Agency during scheme design. The existence of the flood relief channel will have no measurable impact on groundwater levels. While there has been a trend towards lower average rainfall in southern England in recent years, studies related to global climate change suggest that there could be an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme events, the type of event against which this scheme is intended to provide protection. It is too early to quantify any such changes, but clearly it would be imprudent to design a scheme for anything less than the flood conditions experienced in the past 50 years.