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Thames Barrier 100th closure

The Thames Barrier reached another landmark on 18 March when with the closure to protect London from high spring tides and tidal surges for the one-hundredth time.

The Arctic blast bringing cold northerly winds over the North Sea was expected to increase tidal levels by up to half-a-metre this morning, resulting in the decision to close the Thames Barrier.

The Thames Barrier closed at 9.30 and remained closed until about 15:30 as the tide receded. The 24-hour control room continued to monitor tidal forecasts to close the Barrier again if necessary to protect the capital.

Andrew Batchelor, Thames Barrier manager said: “We have been carefully monitoring weather conditions and tidal levels and have decided to close the Thames Barrier to protect London from the anticipated high tide coming up the Thames Estuary.

“Today’s closure sets a landmark for the number of times the Barrier has closed to protect London from flooding and serves as a stark reminder that living in the floodplain is never without risk. The rise of sea levels is a reality, and although we are closing the Barrier at the forecast rate, we expect closures to happen more frequently with 30 closures a year being the norm in 2030 if we don’t make changes to the current system.”

The Thames Barrier is one of the largest moveable flood barriers in the world, and, together with its associated defences, protects 125 square km of central London – and the 1.25 million people who live and work in the floodplain.

Designed to protect London from a tidal surge, the Thames Tidal Defences currently provide London and most of the Thames Estuary with a first class flood defence standard of about 1:2000 years, equating to 0.05 per cent risk of flooding in any given year.

However with climate change and sea level rise, the level of protection will gradually decline, as was planned when the Barrier was first designed, to a 1:1000 year (or 0.1 per cent) risk of flooding by the year 2030.

The Environment Agency’s Thames Estuary 2100 project is already looking at how flood risk in the Thames Estuary should be managed for the next 100 years. The project involves close co-operation between the Environment Agency, Government, local authorities, environmental organisations and others, to provide long term-answers on flood risk management in the Thames Estuary.

“Flooding is a real and increasing risk for London,” Andrew Batchelor added, “but we are already looking at how we can meet this challenge for the long-term by carefully planning how London’s defences can be improved. The Thames Estuary 2100 project is the first step of this process and will help shape the way in which flood defence schemes are designed and managed.

“However, reducing the risk of flooding is not just about flood defences. It’s also about making sure that if building occurs in the flood plain it is located and designed in such a way that, in the rare event of a flood, people are safe and the damage to property is reduced.”

Members of the public can check their level of risk and find out what they can do to protect themselves from flooding by visiting the Environment Agency website or by contacting Floodline on 0845 988 1188.

The Thames Barrier Act was passed in 1972, following an investigation by Sir Herman Bondi. Construction work started in 1974, with the Barrier becoming operational in 1982. The Thames Barrier was first closed in 1982, and has closed with increasing frequency as sea levels have risen. When it came into service the Barrier closed once to twice per year on average. It now closes, on average, five times per year. By 2030 it is expected to close 30 times per year.

Thames Estuary 2100 project aims to:
Assess the useful life of the existing defences and gain an understanding of the how climate change, urban development, social pressures and the environment will affect flood risk management;
Inform and gain support of political and funding partners and stakeholders;
Prepare and manage a programme of studies that will eventually lead to a strategy for flood risk management in the Thames Estuary for the next 100 years.

The Thames Estuary 2100 project is due to outline its draft proposals to Government towards the end of 2008.

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