Thames Barrier closes for 200th time in 40 years, saving 64,000 homes from flooding
The Thames Barrier closed for the 200th time Thursday 21 October to help protect London from potential flooding.
The Environment Agency is closing the barrier to protect London from a high tide as a result of low pressure and northerly winds coinciding with spring tides.
Closure of the barrier cuts the risk of flooding for up to 640,000 properties in London and along the Thames.
The barrier’s 10 steel gates were raised at around 10:45, taking around 90 minutes to close, ahead of the high tide at around 2.30pm. The barrier opened again at 6pm.
The Thames Barrier is the second largest moveable flood barrier in the world, protecting 125 square kilometres of London, and about 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 closure comes as the Environment Agency warns of increasing sea levels along the Thames Estuary, as a result of climate change. Its long-term plan, known as Thames Estuary 2100, to protect London from tidal flooding through the next century, sets out a series of recommendations for how the Environment Agency and can manage 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.”
The Thames Barrier is made up of 10 steel gates spanning 520 metres (1,706 feet) across the River Thames near Woolwich.
It has been closed 110 times to protect against tidal flooding and 90 times to protect against combined sea and river flooding. Each gate takes 10 to 15 minutes to close. The control room is manned 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
The defences were constructed following the 1953 floods that swept down the east coast and killed over 300 people.
Work is already underway on the Thames Estuary 2100 project, which includes a number of measures that will make the capital resilient until at least the end of the century.
Check your flood risk by signing up for free flood warnings on the Gov.uk website and via @EnvAgency on Twitter