Wednesday morning saw the official launch of a project designed to reduce flooding from the Silk Stream section of the River Brent.
The Silk Stream Flood and Resilience Innovation (SSFRI) project will build new wetlands, restore stretches of river, and create new areas of natural drainage over the course of the next six years.
It is one of 25 related schemes that are currently being planned in various locations across England.
The Silk Stream is a 2.5 mile stretch of the River Brent that runs through the borough of Barnet in North West London. Credit: riverlevels.uk
Barnet Council will oversee the project, with help from Harrow Council and the environmental charity Thames21. They have access to £6 million worth of government funding from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Finding sustainable solutions to the flood threat
Flooding has been a long-standing issue for those who live near the river. Harrow councillor Angella Murphy-Strachan says that in recent years “a number of residents” have sent her videos of “water gushing through their homes”.
Over a thousand homes are thought to be at risk in the event of heavy rain. Local resident Michael Green took this video when the Silk Stream burst its banks in 2015.
Thames21 leader Oli Back said that “natural flood management” is both the most effective and the most environmentally-friendly way to prevent flooding. He added: “The old school [approach of] building a big wall and building it higher doesn’t work.”
Barnet councillor Peter Zinkin is confident that the project will “find new ways” to both manage the flood threat and involve local residents in the process. The council have created a survey to gather people’s views on the matter.
Help shape a 6-year programme of projects to reduce the risk of flooding by building new wetlands, restoring stretches of river & creating areas of natural drainage on the #SilkStream catchment.
Share your views by filling out this survey (closes 17 Nov): https://t.co/kw4KpFvChJ pic.twitter.com/zW3FQ5WObt
— Barnet Council (@BarnetCouncil) November 12, 2021
There are also plans to engage the local community through the staging of fun events. The first of these, a flood-themed pub quiz, will take place early next month.
