Freeing Southwark’s ancient rivers from their underground concrete prisons sounds far-fetched – but it may not be a pipe dream after all.
Innumerable rivers have been artificially channelised since the industrial revolution, often to improve navigation and flood control. Thanks to people recognising the damage rerouting waterways via concrete lanes has done to biodiversity, enthusiasm for river restoration is sweeping across the country.
It’s not cheap. A Swiss case study found the cost was about 1,200 Swiss francs (£1,066) per metre of river.
Based on that figure, we’d be looking at mammoth spends in Southwark of around £10 million to restore the Peck and £34 million for Earl’s Sluice. UK import costs, and the fact Earl’s Sluice is connected to the sewage system, could easily push those costs far higher.
Fortunately, help is out there if you know where to look. A whole host of not-for-profit organisations can help river restoration projects with things like training and research. Although sporadic, there are also funding pots available. The government’s £25 million Flood Management programme is seeing 40 projects benefit from grants, with many geared towards restoring the land’s natural functions.
A quick Google search shows river restoration projects cropping up at a bewildering pace. The River Peffrey, Scotland, got £1.2 million in December and Watford Borough Council launched the next stage of the River Colne’s revival in February. Could Southwark be next?