Henley Audience Voices Serious Concern Over Rising Flood Threat
When nearly 100 Henley residents gathered at the Kenton Theatre last week to talk about flooding, two things became clear: people are deeply concerned – and they’re ready to act. A live poll revealed that more than two-thirds of attendees feel “alarmed” or “very concerned” about the growing flood threat in Henley, yet the same poll showed that over two-thirds plan to take at least one practical action to protect their home or community.
That powerful combination – concern and commitment – set the tone for Protecting What We Love: Tackling Flooding and Pollution in Henley, an interactive event hosted by Greener Henley on 26 November. It showed that, while climate impacts are becoming more visible, our community is not helpless. We have options, agency, and a growing sense of shared responsibility.
The evening attracted almost 100 local residents, businesses, councillors and river users and focussed on both the growing flood risk and the practical steps that can be taken to reduce the risk. Almost a quarter of the audience reported having been significantly affected by flooding – whether at home, at work, at school, or while travelling.
The event brought together leading voices from science, sport, business, and local government:
- Dr Jess Neumann, University of Reading
- Dr Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council
- Jonathan Hobbs, Hobbs of Henley
- Greg Searle MBE, Olympic rowing champion
Speakers discussed the rising risk of surface-water flooding, which can occur anywhere and often with little warning, along with the disruption caused by high river flows on the Thames. A central message was the need for preparedness before a flood happens.
“Rainfall is arriving differently, with prolonged dry spells followed by intense storms. That makes flooding harder to predict and shows why preparation really matters.”
Dr Jess Neumann, University of Reading
Experts outlined a mix of property-level actions – checking flood risk, clearing gutters and drains, preparing flood plans, and investing in flood protection – and community-level measures, including flood warden schemes, shared equipment, riverbank maintenance and natural flood management. Live polling showed strong interest in simple drainage maintenance and in collective actions like tree planting and sustainable drainage.
Greener Henley has created a list of actions that people can carry out, at both the property and community level, in the form of a handy pdf that can be downloaded here.
Shared responsibility
A key theme throughout the evening was that flood resilience depends on acting together. What one household does – or fails to do – can affect others downstream, making coordination and shared responsibility essential.
The event highlighted the government’s long-term flood risk map for Henley, offering residents a clearer picture of local vulnerability.
More than two thirds of attendees said they were likely or very likely to take at least one action discussed during the evening after attending.
Jess Neuman, expert in flood risk management and community preparedness from The University of Reading, took the audience through The Environment Agency’s Long Term Flood Risk Map for Henley-on-Thames, showing the areas and streets at greatest risk of surface water flooding.
Checking your own flood risk on the Environment Agency’s map takes just two minutes. Go to our Be Flood Ready! Pledge and you will find all the information you need. Please take a moment to take the Pledge whilst you are there and share the link with others.
Let’s Be Flood Ready!
Greener Henley is inviting residents to sign the Be Flood Ready! Pledge for The Planet, helping people check their flood risk, receive alerts, and share information locally. Organisers emphasised that collective engagement is vital if Henley is to build lasting resilience. With this in mind, please do take a moment to sign up for the Be Flood Ready! Pledge – in doing so, you encourage others to take that step also, joining a growing community whose collective action in signing up for Pledges transforms individual efforts into a unified voice. This then has the power to creating meaningful, systemic change – both locally and beyond. Once you have signed up for the Pledge you can find lots of information on flooding, both within the pledge and on our Henley Flood Preparation Guide page.
Cllr Michelle Thomas reminded attendees:
“If you think you’re OK because you don’t live near the river, think again. There are practical steps every resident, community group and business can take.”
Henley is at its best when we act together. By taking simple steps now – checking our risk, staying informed, supporting neighbours and strengthening our shared preparedness – we can protect the town we love and keep our community safe for years to come. Every pledge, every action, and every conversation helps build a more resilient Henley. Together, we can turn concern into confidence and create a safer, stronger future for all of us.
