The meteorologists said that last month was the wettest March in over a decade - but we knew that already. Living between two rivers, the Thames and the Crane, we St Margarethians have seen the evidence with our own eyes. Twickenham and Richmond riversides were flooded and so were Radnor Gardens, Ranelagh Drive and towpaths from Teddington to Kew and beyond. Cars bobbed about axle deep in murky waters while hapless owners, seemingly unaware of the flood warning signs on the lampposts above their heads, grumbled “Why did nobody tell us?” while we mumbled in response, “Why did nobody look?” Then the Crane burst its banks and back gardens along Eve and Haliburton Roads were flooded for six consecutive days We know all about floods…
"Sometimes we have a river at the bottom of our gardens Sometimes we have our gardens at the bottom of the river."
Perhaps the most dramatic flood took place on the 7th January 1928 when melting snows emptying into the Thames, heavy rains and storm surges coming in from the North Sea combined to flood East Twickenham, all the tow paths from Kingston to Kew and submerge Moormead and most of the roads running down to it.
The land upon which St Margarets stands has always been particularly squelchy. J. Middleton’s “1807 Survey of Middlesex” states that some of the most productive market gardens in the area were situated on drained marsh lands by the river side, which, while “being richly impregnated by water from the river”, were protected from flooding by raised banks of earth known locally as ‘sea walls’. Although the seawalls have largely been replaced by more substantial defences some still remain…
Flooding still occurs in and around St Margarets and most of us are sanguine about it. We don’t park in places where signs warn us not to. We know how to avoid flooded areas. We try not to worry when the water starts to creep up the garden towards the back door. We remember what Edward Ironside wrote of the Thames in 1796…
“It is for all uses of life, sufficiently commodious., free from rocks and other incumbrances, from raging currents and swallowing eddies; neither muddy beds, nor unwholesome vapours, but continually bordered with delightful meadows, runneth with still currente into the sea…and justly deserveth all such equal praises as may be said of a sweete, cleare and pleasant river.”
We know flooding!
Video footage of recent floods around Twickenham.
– from Martyn Day
Comments
It is because of the history of flooding in the area and the proximity of properties that I am worried about the proposals to remove the concrete reinforced banks. We may experience more severe problems in the future and higher Insurance premiums.
Jill Taunton on 2018-04-14 13:55:36 +0000Jill is correct. The Crane was canalised for a reason. It would be very foolish for the reinforced walls to be removed.
Mary on 2018-04-14 22:02:49 +0000I think the intention is to slow down the flow of the Crane - to allow it to meander between its banks and to find its natural pace. At the present moment, particularly at times of high tides and heavy rain, the lower Tidal section of the Crane is an uncontrollable racing torrent more suitable for White Water Rafting than simple drainage. This is because of the speed of the water passing through reinforced concrete banks further up stream.
Martyn Day on 2018-04-20 15:18:50 +0000The flooding we get now is a harbinger of what is to come ; the only questions are How soon? and How bad? Prospective residents in particular need to consider this and make sure they are adequately insured before they need it. Anyone who pooh poohs this should study the TE2100 Action Plan issued in 2012 (but overlooked by the council when they designed their scheme for their riverside site which is non-compliant and has been rejected by the Environment Agency):
Local issues and choices: There is a risk of fluvial flooding in Twickenham from the tidal Thames. Choices for managing this risk are given in the action plan for Action Zone 1. As for the Richmond policy unit, at present, the Thames Barrier is closed to reduce fluvial flood risk. However, this use will be significantly reduced in order to conserve the barrier for tidal flood risk management.
This means that vulnerable areas, for example undefended islands such as Eel Pie Island, will increasingly have to rely upon floodplain management and localised defence measures in the future.
Measures will also be required for tributary flooding, particularly from the River Crane which has an extensive fluvial floodplain in the fluvial/tidal interaction zone (Action Zone 1 Recommendation 4). This will be affected by lack of space for new defences.
Floodplain management may also be required for groundwater flooding. This has not been considered in detail by TE2100 and further investigation will be needed in the future . .
(TE2100 action plan: action zone 1 west London p. 85 Policy unit Twickenham. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/322061/LIT7540_43858f.pdf).
In matters of this kind it is good practice to assume that its later than it seems and so trouble is closer than we think.
Chris Squire on 2018-04-20 15:37:34 +0000