糖心Vlog

1960 was selected as the starting pointing for the Running the River Thames project because at this time the river's governance structure was much the same as it had been since the creation of the Metropolitan Water Board (1904) and Port of London Authority (1909).

See Snapshot of 1960

The created the Water Resources Board – a new central government agency – to develop a national water resources strategy. It also established 29 River Authorities (replacing River Boards established in 1948). In the Thames region, the relevant River Authorities were: Thames Conservancy, Lea Conservancy Catchment Board, Essex River Authority, and Kent River Authority, with the 'London Excluded Area' remaining an exceptional area (now run by Greater London Council (GLC)). Under the , the GLC took over from the London County Council (LCC) in 1965. Across an area 5½ times larger than the LCC boundary, the GLC had responsibility for 37 miles of river (in place of the LCC's 20 miles). Like the City Corporation and other bodies, the GLC had statutory representation on the PLA Board (reduced in 1967; removed 1975).

See Snapshot of 1965

The revolutionised the way water resources and sewerage were managed in England and Wales. 1,580 undertakings were replaced by ten Regional Water Authorities (RWAs). RWAs oversaw water supply, sewerage and pollution control on principles of integrated 'river basin management'. Statutory private water companies were excepted from the reorganisation, continuing to act as 'water only' companies. The Thames Water Authority was the only RWA to be based on a single river basin (stretching from Gloucestershire to the lower Thames estuary). The Metropolitan Water Board and other public water undertakings in the Thames region were absorbed into the Thames Water Authority. Following much debate with agricultural interests, land drainage authorities were largely unaffected by the 1973 Act. The legislation also established the National Water Council (replacing the more strategically significant Water Resources Board) and the Water Space Amenity Forum.

See Snapshot of 1974

The Water Act 1989 privatised the water industry in England and Wales. The ten RWAs were reconstituted as private water and sewerage companies. The statutory 'water only companies remained in place. The Thames Water Authority became Thames Water Ltd UK. The Water Space Amenity Forum was (and the National Water Council had been abolished under the 1983 Water Act). Responsibility for river conservancy, environmental regulation (including pollution control), and recreation passed to the National Rivers Authority (which became the Environment Agency since 1996).

See Snapshot of 1990

Today, the institutional structures arrangements (for water supply, flood control, land drainage and so on) remain as largely as they were in 1989. But the context for river conservancy, nature conservation and port development have been significantly altered by a series of European Union 'directives' that have been in UK legislation. These include: Birds Directive (1979), Shellfish Waters Directive (1979/2006), Habitats Directive (1992), Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (1997/2003/2011), Directive on the Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption (1998), Water Framework Directive (2000), Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008). Following the Ports Act 1991, the Port of London Authority sold the Port of Tilbury (now owned by Forth Ports). The PLA retains some conservancy responsibilities for the tidal Thames (up to mean high water mark). These include the clearance of rubbish in the river (managed jointly with Thames 21) and of oil spills between Tower Bridge and Canvey Island (through Thames Oil Spill Clearance Association (TOSCA).

See the Snapshot of 2013