Community Risk Register

Risk Register (Pdf 184 Kb)

THE THAMES VALLEY AREA - THE CONTEXT FOR RISK EVALUATION

Population:

The Thames Valley comprises a geographical area covering the unitary local authorities of Berkshire and Milton Keynes, and the county and district local authorities of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. It is part of the Government of the South East Region, and borders London Region, Go East, Go East Midlands and Go West. It has 2,113,756 residents, with significant ethnic minority populations in the larger conurbations and a high concentration of universities and colleges creating a seasonal student population. The population breakdown by local authority is as follows:

Bracknell Forest 109,617

Buckinghamshire 479,000

Milton Keynes 212,710

Oxfordshire 619 ,00

Reading 144,100

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead 135,500

Slough 118,800

West Berkshire 144,200

Wokingham 150,229

Source: 2001 UK Census

Environment:

The Thames Valley consists of several large conurbations, small towns and villages, and rural countryside of woodlands, heaths, downs and agricultural land. In general terms the area is more urbanised in the east, more rural in the west and north. The area is one of the driest regions in the UK and thus vulnerable to water shortages. Conversely the Thames and a large network of other river systems are historically prone to flooding, which remains a significant risk for many parts of the area.

Source: Environment Agency

Economy:

The Thames Valley is a major economic centre, both within the UK and Europe. Economic activity is largely focussed on high-tech services and knowledge-based industries, including telecommunications, software, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, R&D, business services, distribution, and retailing. Most major international corporations are represented in the area, and it also has a strong entrepreneurial culture with the highest density of businesses per capita in the UK. Whilst economic resilience, innovation and adaptation are key features of the Thames Valley's economic and business activity, in common with other economic centres it remains susceptible to national and global economic disruption.

Source: Thames Valley Economic Partnership

Infrastructure:

The area has a large concentration of key transport infrastructure serving the Thames Valley, London and cross-country routes. Major motorways and trunk routes include the M1, M3, M4, M329 and M40, and the A40, A34, A5 and A4. A significant majority of rail routes to the south, west, midlands, and north of the UK transit through the Thames Valley. The area borders Heathrow Airport and a number of flight paths transit overhead the region. As a result of the concentration of transport infrastructure, disruptions caused by accidents, weather or other reasons can have a significant impact on local communities.

Several canals, including the Grand Union and the Kennet and Avon, cross the area. The main use of the canals and the River Thames is leisure.

The area contains major retail and leisure sites, in addition to tourist attractions of world renown such as Windsor Castle and Oxford, which attract large gatherings of local people and visitors.

The Thames Valley contains a number of military and other government sites.