London awaits flood barrier on Thames

Press, 9 May 1980, Page 13

London awaits flood barrier on Thames

From

KEN COATES

in London

Greater London Council officials are keeping their fingers crossed against an abnormally high tide and eastern gales that could result in the Thames River _

overflowing.its banks. Every spring and summer there are fears that a flood could make the underground railway unusable for months, cause loss of property and perhaps life, and even perhaps severely cripple London as a financial and commercial centre. The key to protection, the Thames barrier, is still

not due to be completed until December, 1982.

But in spite of a long history of unofficial strikes, overtime bans and industrial trouble, a. pay and conditions package negotiated two years ago has brought a period of relative industrial peace, and progress on construction of the barrier. At the heart of the agreement is a series of bonus payments for workers paid out when each stage of the project is completed on time. By August, 1982, the men, who earn between 180 pounds and 200 pounds a week, should receive seven bonuses worth 3500 pounds if the project avoids any further delays. There was also agreement on a redundancy policy designed to speed-up completion and end timewasting disputes, as each section is completed.

The results are described as remarkable. Last week, 300 men were paid off from the site, usually

a time of deep tension on any major civil engineering project. Instead, the redundancies ■ went as agreed, and without any _ trouble.

The barrier, stretching across the river from Charlton on the south side, to Silvertown on the north, with nine huge piers, spaced 200 feet apart, is a daring feat of engineering. Between the piers, great rolling gates, weighing up to 3300 tonnes and 65 feet high, will lie in concrete grooves on the river bed,

ready to be raised in times of flood danger to dam the river against the oncoming tide. Inflation and earlier industrial trouble forced up costs for the project from an original 75 milestimated 600 million. The barrier was first proposed in 1780, and there was a strong lobby for constructing one in the 19305, when it was estimated to cost three million pounds.

But the idea was abandoned because of fears that it would provide a perfect target for German bombers.

The need has grown. High tide on the Thames has risen by two feet in the last century as London settles into its clay foundations. After disastrous floods in 1953, in which 300 died a movable barrier was suggested. The great hope is that London will not be flooded before the barrier is completed and working.