Our annual dinner at The Ivy House in December was an excellent “do”, much enjoyed by all.  For 2025, we again have Mel Barnet as Hon Sec, Dave Cooper as Hon Treas. plus Maria Branton as the all important Social Sec., …….and me.

Rainfall totals from September have been less than 2023/24 so, while groundwater levels remain very high they are a little below same time last year.  The floodplain areas remain very wet and there is strong flow all the way from Mobwell Pond.  It seems likely that we will have a good stream throughout the year but with slightly less risk of disruptive flooding.

Thameswater continue to work hard to reduce infiltration of groundwater into the sewer network and have completed a project to enable tankers to remove excess at Chalfont St Peter without closure of the High Street.  Work to seal pipeline leaks and manholes is continuing up the valley; surplus from Chesham is now being tankered to Maple Lodge rather than transferred to the Misbourne area; local surveys and cleaning of the system is in hand; extra filtration and other improvements are part complete at the Amersham Balancing Tanks.  The budget for improvements in the catchment has been increased to £10m and studies are looking at long term opportunities.

The CStP tanker facility was briefly used during two January storms.  These came and went too quickly for the surge in additional flow in the sewers to be due to raised groundwater levels but demonstrated the huge amount of water entering the system from domestic roofs and hardstandings etc, which all ought to be going into soakaways or other SUDS.  A residents group has begun highlighting this issue.  It has produced a flyer – see attached – and is looking into potential areas for absorbent planting and other measures.

The Chiltern Chalkstreams Project Board has circulated a draft “Mending the Misbourne” action plan to various stakeholders for comment and expects to publish at the end of March.  It has recently submitted an application to the HS2 Additional Projects fund for a 5-year, £1.7million project to involve dedicated staff and funding to the catchment, working on a similar model to the very successful Chess Smarter Water Catchment project.  The plan prioritises improvements in water quality, management of flow, integrity of wildlife corridors and involving people with their local waterbody.  It highlights some “big wins” including work to avoid sewage contamination at Amersham and Gerrards Cross and two major watercourse restoration projects as well as tackling invasive species of flora and fauna, an education programme and engagement with the development planning process.