Staines’ waterside set for improvement

11-Aug-2011

The Environment Agency is set to enhance a stretch of the River Thames from Staines to Penton Hook - bringing both environmental improvements and safety benefits to the local community.

Repairs will be undertaken to steps leading down to the riverbank with some dilapidated steps being removed altogether to allow the bank to be reformed back to a more natural state.

Over the years, over-engineering has impacted on the ecology of the river. As part of the Water Framework Directive - a new piece of European legislation which promotes a new approach to water management through river basin planning – the Environment Agency will improve the natural balance of the riverbank by re-instating the natural bank where possible:

Paul Power, Environment Agency Waterways Engineer for the River Thames, said:

“Bringing Penton Hook’s riverbank back to a more natural state will help habitats thrive. Removing illegal mooring platforms and unsafe structures will enable Environment Agency staff to re-build the bank using natural materials which will help improve habitat conditions for fish, invertebrates and other wildlife”

The repair works to the stretch of river has been brought forward with £200,000 being invested into the project. Work will be carried out over the next few weeks as part of the Environment Agency’s ongoing programme of maintenance works to retain waterway assets to a good and safe working order.

“This project is a great example of how we can improve, and make safer, our facilities for the public and also improve the environment at the same time. We want the river to be accessible for all, and hopefully this is just another step towards making sure that everyone can enjoy the Thames”.

To help boaters plan their journeys on the river while the works are underway the Environment Agency has produced a handy map, detailing the work taking place and how long locks will be closed. The map will be regularly updated and the latest version can be downloaded from www.visitthames.co.uk/works.

one hand wants to improve the environment, return it to a more natural state
another wants to ruin it with hydropower

So true

David Harvey wrote:

Removing illegal mooring platforms

That bit is good though. Some people whose house is next to the river have built landing stages illegally along there....and Shepperton I suspect, then tell you to clear off when you fish near them.

spot on m8, and they probably dump their lawn cuttings in the river as well

http://www.visitthames.co.uk/text/1480/works.html

There is a typo in the original link.