Flood risk needs action, Vice-Chancellor tells Thames groups

More extreme weather is putting riverside communities at greater risk of floods, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading told residents and the former UK Prime Minister at an event in Cookham.

The Rt Hon Baroness May of Maidenhead - former Prime Minister Theresa May – introduced the talk by Professor Robert Van de Noort, who as well as being Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading is President of the River Thames Society and a former chair of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

Baroness May is patron of the Maidenhead Civic Society, which co-hosted the event on 11 September with the Cookham Society and Maidenhead Waterways, and has frequently highlighted the issue of flood planning and preparedness along the Thames.

Professor Van de Noort warned that the increasing frequency of extreme weather events is leaving communities across the Thames Valley in need of better flooding protection and awareness.

The talk focused on the challenges facing flood-prone riverside communities including Maidenhead and Cookham, particularly in light of the discontinuation of the Environment Agency’s Thames Valley Flood Scheme – a long-term plan which was designed to reduce flood risk across the Thames basin with widespread adaptations to land management around the river and its tributaries.

Professor Van de Noort said: "I was grateful to be invited to speak to people in Cookham, which is one of the communities in our region which is facing up to flood risks that require urgent attention.

“The University of Reading's research into the environment, including weather and climate change, clearly demonstrates the importance of long-term thinking to protect people against floods.

“With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, it is vital that we apply the best evidence and understanding of our rivers, so that we can protect people from damaging and dangerous flood events – and it is vital that we share that knowledge whenever we can with those who are affected.”

The event was jointly hosted by the Maidenhead Civic Society, the Cookham Society, and Maidenhead Waterways, who invited Professor Van de Noort to deliver the talk following recent flooding incidents in Cookham and Maidenhead. Attendees included residents and groups concerned about the impact of flooding on local waterways and the surrounding areas.