On the 24th of October 2023 I met with the Environment Agency to discuss key issues facing Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
Firstly, flooding.
Flooding from rivers in Hertfordshire and North London (which Uxbridge and South Ruislip is a part of) affects 140,116 properties. 220,941 properties are at surface water risk, of which 176,522 are in London. 160,510 properties are at tidal flood risk and 180,143 at reservoir breach.
I am pleased to work closely with local councillors in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, such as Wayne Bridges, who implemented trenches towards the duck pond at Elephant Park as a result of a flooding close to the area. This adaption to the structure of the ground will prevent flooding in the future.
The Thames Estuary 2100 Plan sets out how the EA and partners will also shape a climate-resilient and sustainable Thames Estuary, which will manage the risk of tidal flooding and benefit more than 1.4 million people and £321 billion worth of residential property, as well as delivering wider environmental and sustainability benefits.
The River Roding Project is a flood storage area on the River Roding just North of the M25 at Shonks Mill Bridge. This will reduce the risk of flooding to over 1,400 residential properties in Woodford and Ilford, as well as reducing the risk to commercial properties and infrastructure, including the M11. The project will also refurbish an existing flood embankment in Woodford to make sure it can withstand the estimated impacts of climate change.
Secondly, waste crime and enforcement.
Waste crime undermines investment, growth and jobs in the legitimate waste businesses. It threatens communities through its links to crime and willingness to despoil places people live.
Since April 2020, in Hertfordshire and North London (which Uxbridge and South Ruislip is a part of), 1288 reported illegal waste sites, 524 were illegal sites and 746 were fly tips or domestic burning.
9 illegal waste sites in operation, 7 high risk and 8 EA investigations of serious waste crime offending.
The EA closed 206 illegal sites, prosecutes 27 since 2019 and 4 court cases in the process.
I am pleased to back the Environment Agency on all their hard work on reducing both flooding and waste crime. It is part of my plan to keep the green spaces in Uxbridge and South Ruislip protected, and that is why I am going to keep close contact to the Environment Agency.
