Previous public consultations

The River Thames Scheme (RTS) is committed to engaging with the public about its proposals. We have held five consultations on the proposals: one in 2009, one in 2016, one in 2022 and two in 2024.

Public Consultation - 21 September 2009 to 18 December 2009

This 2009 consultation proposed measures to reduce the risk of flooding to the 15,000 properties which were at risk from a 1% flood event. The affected area was from Datchet to Teddington. The proposals included the construction of three flood diversion channels, the widening of Desborough Cut and improvements to Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington weirs. There were 10 public events, in addition to a specific meeting with Thorpe Ward Residents Association, and 16 meetings with Councillors, land owners and other community representatives. The Lower Thames Flood Risk Management Strategy - Consultation document (PDF) is available to view online, and the Lower Thames Flood Risk Management Strategy (PDF) which provides a summary of comments and responses to consultation.

Public Consultation - Autumn 2016

The 2016 consultation engaged with local communities to gather feedback on different aspects of the scheme, including recreational opportunities, habitat creation and weir design. An appraisal of the proposed design options for each area, considering a range of social, environmental, economic and technical factors was completed. This engagement was crucial in the selection of the preferred option.

Public Consultation - 8 November 2022 to 20 December 2022

During the 2022 public consultation, we received 485 responses to the consultation. 447 were via the questionnaire and 38 were via email or letter. The RTS asked residents in the area for feedback on a range of topics including ranking in order their preference between access to green space, connection to wildlife and a sustainable travel network. The responses will be used to develop the design of the scheme. The Non-statutory consultation brochure (PDF) is available to view online, and we have since released our non-statutory consultation summary report (PDF) which summarises the feedback we received and how we have used that.

Statutory Consultation - 22 January 2024 to 4 March 2024

The statutory consultation asked residents for feedback on a range of topics, including their preferred use of blue and green infrastructure, and unveiled the Landscape and Green Infrastructure designs following feedback from the 2022 consultation.

Consultation materials available in the document library

We also produced a series of websites to provide a digital format of the information, including a Consultation StoryMaps and a Digital Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR).

Supplementary Consultation - 3 September 2024 to 7 October 2024

Supplementary consultation asked residents for feedback on the proposed design of the scheme's Spelthorne Channel at Ferris Meadow Lake.

During statutory consultation (Jan-March 2024), seven options were presented for Ferris Meadow Lake with a high-level description of what each option entailed. Additional work was carried out looking at the options in more detail as well as two further options suggested by respondents during statutory consultation. Supplementary consultation shared the options appraisal report, which provided the Schemes findings across the nine options and identified the preferred option.