Survey finds 'significant support' for flood plan

About 1,000 homes were flooded by the River Thames in 2014

There is "significant support" for a flood risk plan along the River Thames despite previous objections.

In 2023, thousands of people signed a petition against a proposed route for a flood relief channel as part of the River Thames Scheme.

A recent consultation found 63% of the 2,571 people who responded agreeing that a scheme would help to reduce local flooding, compared with 16% who disagreed or strongly disagreed.

Spelthorne Borough Council said: "The process of statutory consultation revealed significant support for the proposals presented for the scheme overall."

The scheme - which is being delivered by Surrey County Council and the Environment Agency - aims to reduce the risk of flooding for 11,000 homes and 1,600 businesses in Surrey and London.

It includes new river channels being built through Runnymede, between Egham Hythe and Chertsey, and Spelthorne, between the River Thames at Laleham, before meeting Littleton North Lake and upstream of Desborough Cut.

'Invaluable'

The scheme consists of capacity increases downstream of the Desborough Cut and the weirs at Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington.

It is hoped it will also improve access to "quality green, open space and connections with wildlife", while also supporting a more sustainable travel network and creating a network of high-quality habitats to achieve biodiversity gain.

About 50,000 people had signed the petition opposing the plans, among them as open water swimmers in Shepperton who feared the new channel would damage the water quality of their lake.

Campaign leader Emma Jackson told BBC Radio Surrey: "The scheme obviously is needed.

"What we are against though is ruining an already useful facility that serves the community locally."

Eddie Rrokaj, the project director for the River Thames Scheme, said: "The statutory consultation process has been invaluable in helping to shape the direction of the River Thames Scheme."