Thames Water Works

[nunhead_man]

with thanks to Friends of Peckham Rye Park ..........

"We have been alerted to the works by Thames Water to alleviate flooding in the Peckham Rye area ? this will certainly affect those living near the below mentioned roads

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Details of the Scheme;

Area 1

Involves works in St Aidans Road, Crebor Street, Barry Road and Peckham Rye.

The scheme is needed to resolve flooding problems to basements in some properties in the area. The houses effected are scattered across the locality and not necessarily neighbouring properties, mainly in the Underhill Road and Upland Road area.

Risk modelling has been undertaken to ascertain future risks of flooding and to predict costs to resolve the problems. A tunnelling solution has been proposed as well as some FLIPS (Small Package Pump Stations at individual properties)

St Aidans Road will be closed for 6 months work due to commence in April. This is obviously not popular with the residents who will be significantly effected and it is not their properties that are flooding!

Tunnelling will be undertaken the length of St Aidans to Underhill Road and joining to the main trunk sewer by The Elms in the park.

Thames/MGTv have requested to place a compound in the Elms Area for the duration of the works.

We have informed them that this maybe a possibility but the ground conditions in the area are very boggy. They are

in the process of applying for the traffic orders and permits, and they will be undertaking ecological and tree surveys in the next couple of weeks. We will request that our tree officer attends these meetings. We do not have any major concerns regarding granting permission for their compound as long as the trees and wildlife are protected and suitable reinstatement is carried out. Highways have some traffic concerns with vehicles turning in and out of the park onto the Rye and MGTv have been asked to provide details of how they will manage this, smaller loads etc.

Once completed there will only be a man hole cover visible above ground in the park. We have informed Thames/MGTv that park users/friends may ask what benefit there will be to the park for the disruption and suggested that they may want to contribute to possible improvements in the area, once we know the details of the feasibility study for investigating the stream and adding a wetland area. (Peter Frosts CGS bid).

They are also proposing to undertake tunnel works on Peckham Rye on the road to the left of Barry Road. This will be partially closed for 9 months commencing in June. Highways of course have extreme concerns regarding this scheme as it will cause major traffic disruption. Thames/MGTV have investigated the possibility of undertaking a soft dig across the common, but thankfully for parks, have come to the opinion that this is not worth pursuing as the legal protection of MOL and common status will mean that it would take years to pursue and the possibility of granting permission would be highly unlikely.

They have requested that parks allow a compound on the common or in the park for the duration of these works. We have informed them that this is highly unlikely as there is no suitable area and we have also informed them of the details of the Peckham Revitalisation scheme and the impact that will have on the park.

Area 2

Involves tunnelling to Turney Road this will have an impact on traffic management but not at the park.

Caroline and Ian Law are the LBS contacts for highways.

Thames will be sending us details of the St Aidans scheme and the compound they require. Once we have these It would be useful to meet with you to discuss.

The meeting was also attended by John Kissi LBS and John Greenyer. They have been discussing a wider scheme for flooding alleviation that may effect the park. They will be sending a meeting request shortly. It maybe useful for you to also attend this meeting to find out what they are proposing. They have no funding as yet and I think they were originally proposing an idea that may have effected the common, but now they have been informed of the strict planning laws they are likely to dismiss this, so the meeting is just to discuss ideas.