team. She continues, “The research is
significant because it predicts local sea
level rise rates.”
SCOTT WILSON AND THE THAMES
Following this extensive research,
the team developed a series of options
for the future development of the
flood defences and presented them
at a conference in April of this year.
The paper of their findings is currently
under consultation, giving people
the opportunity to comment on the
proposals. They vary from improving
the existing defences to building a new
barrier, dependent on best and worst
case scenarios of sea level rise.
Whatever the future of the Thames
flood defences and the outcome of the
current consultation, Jean will continue
to be involved. Flood risk management
of the Thames has been a huge part
of her professional life. She worked
for the Greater London Council
when the barrier was first installed,
looking at the impact of the different
modes of operating the barrier on the
The Thames Gateway Parklands Vision
surrounding area and in 2004 she
was awarded an OBE for her role as Scott Wilson has a long history difficult questions for Gateway clients
Chairman of the Thames Region Flood of working in flood management in when planning their medium to long
Defence Committee. ■ London and the Thames estuary. term development. The option of a
The Group has undertaken a new Thames Barrier at Long Reach,
number of key projects including for example, would mean significant
flood depth, velocity and hazard reductions in potential capital spend
mapping for the whole of the south on flood defence wall upgrades for
Essex coast. This included hydraulic riparian landowners.”
modelling of breaches in the Thames On the subject of a new Thames
tidal defence system at key risk barrier, Scott Wilson was part of
locations such as Canvey Island, a consortium of organisations
where such devastation was caused examining the practicalities and
by the flooding in 1953. benefits of a barrier at the extreme
More recently, Scott Wilson’s eastern end of the Thames estuary.
flood management teams have This work, undertaken alongside
been advising some key Thames architect Sir Terry Farrell, formed
Gateway clients on the impacts part of the basis for a series of
of the TE2100 proposals on their placemaking proposals, now
landholdings and plans. Head of known as the Thames Gateway
Water Environment, Jon Robinson, Parklands Vision, promoted by
comments, “The range of flood the UK Government's Department
management proposals within the of Communities and Local
TE2100 programme leads to some Government. ■
www.scottwilson.com | Summer 2009 exchange | 07
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