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53
In my Annual Report for the year 1897, I dealt at length with
this subject of the overflow of the River Lea, and remarked inter alia
respecting the cause of the flooding:
"Considering the whole of these circumstances it is probable
that the embanking of the Hackney Marshes by the London
County Council was instrumental, to some extent, in
bringing about the flooding of the houses on the west
bank of the river referred to above, but, I am of opinion
that the other works referred to, and carried out by the
East London Water Company and the Lea Valley
Drainage Commissioners were also to a similar extent
responsible."
"It is obvious that the waters of a river, which during heavy
rains is accustomed to overflow its banks, and flood low
lying lands, will, if the banks are raised, rise considerably
during such times and probably overflow other parts, if
the water cannot get away fast enough by the natural
channel of the river."
"Endeavours are being made to reclaim from the river such of
the low lying lands as are capable of being utilised. This
is especially the case in our district. We may then confidently
anticipate that the flooding of the houses named
above which hitherto has been a rare event, will become
more frequent; and the object of recording this event is to
consider what, if any, remedy can be applied to prevent
the recurrence of floods to the detriment of inhabited
houses in this district."
"It is clear that the reclaiming of low lying land near the river,
and its utilisation cannot be stopped; so the problem to
be solved is how to allow) storm waters to pass rapidly
enough away to prevent the flooding of inhabited houses
on the river banks."