Time to show gray concrete into inexperienced area to cease London flooding?

Inexperienced Occasion London Meeting Member Zack Polanski has issued a press release lamenting inaction on the implementation of forward-looking drainage methods in London.

At a time when London is flooding repeatedly, he stated, the Mayor has solely delivered one hundredth of his annual goal to enhance drainage.

Over 100,000 sq. metres of London that ought to have improved drainage utilizing SuDs (Sustainable City Drainage Programs) has not been delivered since 2019. The Mayor has additionally confirmed he’s unable to correctly monitor progress beneath questioning from Zack Polanski AM at this time.

SuDs are designed to cut back dangers round flooding that are elevated throughout winter months and the Mayor is on the right track to overlook this goal for the third yr in a row.[1]

When Zack has requested for extra knowledge on SuDs, he has been instructed the GLA doesn’t maintain detailed knowledge on set up by yr. Figures given usually say extra is going on however are unspecific on how a lot or the place that is happening.[1]

Inexperienced London Meeting member Zack Polanski says:

“You possibly can’t monitor progress should you don’t know what’s being carried out. The local weather is getting extra unstable than ever, and London dangers one other season of flooding.

“I might urge the Mayor to not solely meet his goal but in addition make up the shortfall. The gray concrete that covers an excessive amount of of London can collect rainfall into devastating floods which significantly threaten these dwelling in basements.

“We should break up that concrete and substitute it with inexperienced areas that take up water, letting it drain away over time as a substitute of flooding our houses. The Mayor has missed this goal for too lengthy – he should decide to taking SuDs significantly, prioritising monitoring and inspiring boroughs, companies and landowners to do extra.”

The Mayor has a goal for TfL to empty 50,000 sq. metres a yr of freeway catchment into SuDs. In 2021/22 TfL solely put in SuDs that drained 500 sq. metres.[1]

Notes
[1] Knowledge from two MQs by Zack Polanski AM on London’s Sustainable Drainage System progress MQ 2022/0016 https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/questions-mayor/find-an-answer/londons-sustainable-drainage-system-progress and MQ 2022/3603 https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/questions-mayor/find-an-answer/londons-sustainable-drainage-system-progress-2