Thatcham flood defence campaign receives £20,000 boost
Power supplier supports local campaign to protect homes
A CAMPAIGN to shore up Thatcham's flood defences has had its funds bolstered by a £20,000 pledge.
Thatcham Flood Forum successfully applied for the maximum grant available from Southern Electric Power Distribution towards its Keep the Floods from Thatcham’s Doors fundraising campaign.
The forum is on its way to building a ring of defences around the town in order to prevent a repeat of the ruinous floods of July 2007.
More than 1,100 homes were flooded after three times the monthly rainfall fell on the town in 24 hours.
Residents were forced to leave their homes and were still homeless up to 18 months after the devastation.
The forum’s scheme has already led to the completion of the first pond at the bottom of Cold Ash Hill, and work on the second, to the north of Tull Way is expected to begin this year.
The campaign now needs to raise enough money to unlock government funds to build the last two flood alleviation schemes, which are designed to protect south east Thatcham from flooding.
Each pond costs around £1m, but the forum needs to raise £200,000 in total to unlock the government funds.
Iain Dunn, the chairman of Thatcham Flood Forum, has welcomed the Southern Electric’s pledge towards the campaign.
He said: “We really want to prevent a repeat of the 2007 floods, when around 4,000 people had to find alternative accommodation for up to 18 months because their homes were uninhabitable.
“That is why we are very grateful to Southern Electric Power Distribution for this latest boost to our fundraising efforts.”
The flood forum launched the campaign in March, and passed the £100,000 mark last month and the Greenham Common Trust has agreed to match-fund every £10 worth of donations.
Southern Electric’s pledge has come from its resilient communities fund, which is designed to help communities cope with emergencies caused by extreme weather.
Director of distribution for Southern Electric Power Distribution, Stuart Hogarth, said: “Thatcham Flood Forum is a perfect example of a local group working together to help keep their community safe and well.
“Losing a home and treasured possessions under any circumstances is a devastating thought, which is why I am delighted that the Keep the Floods from Thatcham’s Doors campaign will receive this money to protect the town from a repeat of the flooding in 2007.”
The electricity supplier’s pledge was announced a week after the MP for Newbury, Richard Benyon, asked the department for the environment food and rural affairs to look closely at Thatcham’s case and invest in the town’s defences.
To donate to the flood forum’s campaign visit www.findmeagrant.org/wberks and type WB11089 into the keyword search.
