Memorial Fields, Thatcham Flood Alleviation Scheme

We received 53 responses to the consultation, and of these 15 stated they were against the proposals and 13 were in favour. The other comments related to specific issues rather than being positively for or against the scheme. 

The main concerns expressed, and our responses are as follows:

• Loss of dog exercise area.
  Our response: The proposed scheme will result in the loss of the existing dog exercise area. The Council are working with Thatcham Town Council to either relocate the existing facility on the site or re-locate it elsewhere in Thatcham. Ultimately, this will be the decision of Thatcham Town Council.

• Loss of Memorial Hall facility during the works.
  Our response: The Memorial Hall will remain open throughout the works, as will the Thatcham Bowls Club and the Scout/Brownie Hut.

• Loss of amenity area for events such as the car-boot, fair.
  Our response: During construction, there will be an inevitable loss of usable space for events. The Memorial Trust are aware of the implications of the scheme both during construction and post construction.

• Access to the site and the potential loss of tennis courts on the site.
  Our response: A number of options have been considered, namely from the north (via the Poets estate) and also directly off the A4. Given the large machinery necessary to construct the works, it is not feasible or safe to use residential roads with such a high volume of on street parking and therefore this has been ruled out. Access will need to be directly off the A4. Again, two options have been considered, through Thatcham Cricket Club entrance and through the existing tennis courts. The offer to potentially use the cricket club entrance has now been retracted by the club. This means that the most practical and safe entrance to the site will be through the tennis courts. Unfortunately, this will result in the loss of one of the courts. We were asked to look at whether concessions could be given to members to use of the tennis courts at Henwick, but these are currently not in a usable state.

• Loss of children’s play area (behind the tennis courts).
  Our response: The proposed site access across the tennis courts will affect the children’s play area, but only the swings. These would need to be removed during the work and reinstated on completion. The rest of the play area will still be accessible.

• Deep water in the basin, provision of life saving equipment.
  Our response: The basin will only retain water during extreme storm events and will remain dry most of the time. Flood water will only remain in a small area of the lower basin for a few hours in the worst-case climate change scenario. The basin will have gradual side slopes allowing for site users to safely exit the basin. Fencing off the area would mean the loss of a large portion of the field which would mean a loss of amenity for the users of the field. In line with current guidance, water below a depth of 1.5m deep does not require the provision of life buoys and the provision of unnecessary Public Rescue Equipment could lead to vandalism and misuse.

• Landscaping proposals.
  Our response: The landscaping plan was an initial draft with indicative hedgerow planting show, new planting will be set at an appropriate distance from property boundaries. The new footpath allows for the field to be used for sports activities/football as well as dog walkers.

• Area never flooded.
  Our response: The memorial field is affected by surface water flooding and the surrounding area has also historically been affected by sewer flooding, the flood alleviation scheme helps prevent and reduce flooding from both sources. Due to the effects of climate change/increased urbanisation, flood events will become more frequent in the future and the scheme acts as a preventative measure for the increase in frequency of flooding.