Tuesday 10 June 2008

Going overground with our rivers...

Ok - we want to bring the river back overground - it has lain underground since it was piped over 200 years ago and we want to enjoy it again...

Surely that's a daft idea? It hasn't be done elsewhere, has it? and it would cost a fortune and to what benefit?

Well, I think it's a superb idea - it's about restoring our proper environment. Everyone agrees that water flow is a calming influence and is a beautiful environmental feature. I have a picture here is the rive flowing down the High Street in Wells, Somerset and it is just so so special - attractive, helpful, not dangerous and manageable.

The Sustainability Task Force in Camden, led by Cllr Alexis Rowell has already explored this possibility and are actually advocating the opening up of the Rivers Fleet and Kilburn. Surely the Kilburn High Road could be so much better for a river running down it and as can be seen in the picture it adds to the street scene and does not intrude.

So if you go to the Camden website link - Pages 9-14 deal with this particular issue and opportunity - it's seriously interesting reading and worth while.
http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/environment/green-events-and-initiatives/sustainability-task-force/task-force-reports/

What do you think? Who's up for a walk of the overground flow of the Fleet and the Kilburn Rivers so we can explore whether bringing them back into visibility is a runner.. (excuse the pun!).

Ed Fordham

4 comments:

Haribo said...

Does that count as a river?

Anonymous said...

It's a good point amd maybe a valid one
what my not vwery good picture doesn't show is that this river has a gully that flows down both sides of the road...

I don't think rivers start large they just end up big so it is possible that this and indeed the fleet and kilburns start small in camden and get bigger...

Anonymous said...

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-23495361-details/Lost+rivers+of+London+to+resurface+in+Boris+plan/article.do

Ed F said...

It looks like it could be dangerous for young kids, prams, etc. Also, not disability friendly and could cause major problems if it flooded. Hm... not a fan.