The Thames Barrier is being closed for the 200th time today to defend against a high tide and possible heavy flooding in London.

The Environmental Agency is closing the barrier, located close to Woolwich, to protect the capital after it was hit by heavy rainfall and flooding overnight.

It will defend against a high tide as a result of low pressure and northerly winds, and closure of the barrier will reduce the risk of flooding for up to 640,000 properties in London and along the Thames.

The Thames Barrier's 10 steel gates will begin to move at around 10:45, taking around 90 minutes to close, ahead of the high tide at around 14:30. The barrier will then reopen at approximately 18:00 this evening.

The Thames Barrier is the second largest moveable flood barrier in the world, protecting 125 square kilometres of central London, encompassing 1.4 million people, 400 schools, 16 hospitals, and 86 train and tube stations. It forms part of the Thames Tidal Defences, which also includes the Barking and Dartford Creek Barriers.

 

 

Andy Batchelor, Operations Manager for the Thames Tidal Defences, said: "Since becoming operational in 1982, the Thames Barrier has offered our capital world class flood protection.

"Without it, the centre of London would have potentially been inundated on multiple occasions and millions of people would have been at risk from the misery of flooding.

"The Barrier will continue to provide that protection until at least 2070, but as we see the effect of the climate emergency with rising sea levels we’re investing a further £54m in London, providing funding to more than 50 schemes to tackle all sources of flooding.

The Thames Barrier is made up of 10 steel gates spanning 520 metres (1,706 feet) across the River Thames near Woolwich. Until today and since it became operational in 1982, it has closed on 199 occasions, 110 times to protect against tidal flooding and 89 times to protect against combined sea and river flooding.

News Shopper: London's Thames BarrierLondon's Thames Barrier

Each gate takes 10 to 15 minutes to close (one-and-a-half hours for total closure of the barrier), and the control room is manned 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The closure comes as the Environment Agency warns of increasing sea levels along the Thames Estuary, as a result of climate change.

Work continues to deliver a long-term plan, known as Thames Estuary 2100, to protect London from tidal flooding through the next century, and sets out a series of recommendations for how the Environment Agency and partners can work together to manage these rising sea levels - including a potential new barrier.

Charlotte Wood, the Environment Agency’s London Area Director, said:

The Thames Estuary 2100 Plan is internationally recognised as a leading example of climate change adaptation and the 200th closure of the Thames Barrier marks another significant milestone as we continue to adapt to a changing climate.

Our collaboration with councils, communities, businesses and NGOs is vital as we continue to better protect people and properties from flooding, as well as providing the opportunity to reshape our riversides and adapt to climate change.

As of 07:45 on Thursday, there are 53 Flood Warnings and 108 Flood Alerts in force, with Environment Agency teams out on the ground clearing waste grilles and screens and standing ready to support local authorities in their response to surface water flooding.