John Redwood has taken the Government and Environment Agency by surprise with his suggestion that we build 150,000 homes in the Thames Estuary by reclaiming land like the Dutch do.
I don't know what to make of this idea, I really don't. Instinctively, reclaiming land (which is at premium in the South-East) sounds like a great idea. Then I remember it's a tidal estuary beside which the Government is already building hundreds of thousands of homes. Homes, incidentally, on the floodplains of Essex and Kent. Do we really want to slap 150,000 more on reclaimed land in a floodplain and risk drowning people?
Yes, yes, I know I'm being horrendously alarmist, but the cost of making it genuinely safe would be astronomical, wouldn't it? Can you imagine what the insurance premium would be for living on reclaimed land in the Thames Estuary?
You're a clever man John, but I'm really not so sure this is one of your better ideas.
7 comments:
dykes can burst.
Bad idea
why do I have such a smutty mind?
Is it just me or is there a severe water shortage in the area? Adding 150,000 new homes sounds like a great idea as long as they dont expect running water.
they'll get running water at high tide
Maybe we need the 150.000 homes for all the illegal immigrants that we are planning to invite to stay?
"The sky's the limit once you recognise that this is feasible," Mr Redwood said yesterday
Says it all!
An engineer would be more careful and would never use the term 'sky's the limit' unless referring to a space expedition:
"The limits will become more apparent as the feasibility is studied more fully."
(I'm an engineer and there is a possibility that I may be completely wrong.)
This is a kicking off point for the eciting riverside Tamesis development in which the Chairman of the Met. Police Authority has such an interest.
http://www.tiny.cc/duvall466
Watertight investment ?
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