Forum Topic

Thames path collapses into the river.

A 4-m wide section of the Thames Path has collapsed at Syon Reach near Kew Gardens. Totally impossible and repairs may take months.

N V Brooks ● 34d12 Comments

You are probably right — that's why I said it needs to be investigated. Of course there won't be many of the current riverside areas inhabited by the end of the century if no action is taken.

Andrew OSullivan ● 23d

I don't necessarily disagree Andrew but isn't it the case that there are very few places along the Thames that could be allowed to naturally flood because of all the development on the river?

Felicity Caborn ● 24d

With sea levels predicted to rise putting up embankments on the Thames is literally fighting the tide. If we want to keep the riverside open for people to walk along we have to accept that at some point we are going have to pay for a second Thames barrier. If letting areas that are uninhabited postpones or even removes the need to do this, then it must be worth investigating.

Andrew OSullivan ● 25d

Steve, your flies are undone again.

Mark Frost ● 27d

The path was eroded by irresponsible speeding cyclists.

Steve Taylor ● 28d

No, it's telling us that paths need maintenance, particularly if they are built over water courses.

N V Brooks ● 28d

Is nature telling us that we need to consider letting more sections of the Thames flood naturally as it does on the other side of the river on Syon Park? That would be a boost to London's long term flood resilience.

Mark Evans ● 28d

There's a watercourse and secluded ponds with lots of overhanging branches on tbe inside of the pathmichael adams

Michael Adams ● 31d

Thanks for the clarification Simon. That makes perfect sense. I've walked over this spot hundreds of times and was unaware of the pipes.

Felicity Caborn ● 31d

Agree, but you know how slow it can be with bridges.

Janice Evans ● 31d

it's river water flowing back into the river when the tide goes outthere has always been a flow of river water both ways under the path in pipes at this point on the path...I guess pipes are bridges really...but maybe they should have been larger

Simon Pedley ● 31d

Looking at the footage of this what perplexed me was that the torrent of water seemed to be flowing out of Kew Gardens into the Thames rather than vice versa. I was unaware that there were any underground rivers at this point. If there is maybe it would be best not to try to fight nature and build a bridge rather than trying to reconstruct the path.

Felicity Caborn ● 31d