Date: August 28, 2007
The government planned that the Thames barrier to save London from a potentially disastrous flooding threat was the centerpiece. The minister for climate change, Phil Woolas told the Sunday Telegraph ” a feasibility study into a second Thames barrier, potentially required within 25 years, was due to report in a matter of weeks.” Then the new flood defenses was being planned for all major police, fire and power stations and other vital infrastructure in advance to avoid more disastrous flooding. Mr. Woolas said ” that during the floods, which caused up to £3 billion worth of damage, parts of Gloucestershire came within minutes of the biggest peacetime evacuation Britain has seen. It came after a crucial electricity sub-station was nearly destroyed.” Then the flood experts say “the existing Thames barrier, completed in 1983 may not be able to cope with rising tides by 2030. A second barrier, long rumoured to be in the planning, would be located farther east than the current defence system at Woolwich which has seen a dramatic increase in the number of times it has been put into use. When it first came on stream it was closed on average every couple of years – but in 2003 it was used 19 times.” Mr. Woolas asked if there is a possibility that London would flood in the next 25 years then Mr. Woolas said that “It may do. The environment agency are doing a feasibility study. When the Thames Barrier was built it was built on the assumption that there was a one in 2,000 year chance that London would flood. ” There should always a plan for every disaster that can come in the country. Though there is no one who can stop it, we should help each other.
Reference:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1561374/Second-Thames-flood-barrier-planned.html
