Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the Environment Agency implements corrective works following the construction error in the Maidenhead Bund; and what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of operational water level management at Cookham Lock on flood risk to residents of South Cookham Rise.

The Environment Agency (EA) designed and constructed the North Maidenhead Bund, as part of the Maidenhead Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation Scheme, to reduce the risk of flooding to communities in Cookham, Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton. No construction errors have been identified by the EA.

Weir gate movements at the Cookham Lock & Weir complex are carried out to optimise the River Thames flow, and level, as the catchment conditions change. Weir gates are gradually opened to manage the increased flow, up to a position where all gates are fully open. At this point, the River Thames behaves as a natural river. The EA is not aware of any evidence that demonstrates its current weir operating regime increases flood risk and is therefore not considering changing how weir gates are operated.

The EA has committed to further meetings with local community representatives to discuss their concerns.