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Flooding One Year On - What's Been Done?

Released on 16 Jul 2008

As the anniversary of the July 2007 floods draws near, The Environment Agency and Oxfordshire's councils have reviewed the improvements they have delivered over the past 12 months.

"We've had a huge challenge in responding to the floods but we've been pressing ahead with the job we're here to do," said Craig Woolhouse, Area Manager with the Environment Agency.

"Since last summer we've spent £2million to complete river maintenance, de-silting work, debris clearance activities, channel maintenance and improve river structures in Oxfordshire. We acknowledge that we haven't been able to do everything that people have wanted - but communities such as Rack End on the river Windrush who have seen work completed have been very reassured that their concerns have been recognised.

"Last week's demonstration of demountable defences in Oxford was another very public way of giving confidence that flood risk is being reduced by the Environment Agency and Oxfordshire Councils."

As well as its ongoing operational activities, The Environment Agency has also held flood surgeries in Oxford, Abingdon and Witney and met with other communities and individuals to listen to their concerns, draw on their experiences and identify areas for improvement.

"Our teams have visited landowners and parish councils across the county, including Brize Norton, Clanfield, Bampton, Steventon, Enslow, Wendlebury, Adderbury, Bloxham and Banbury", said Mr Woolhouse.

"Some of the issues people are interested in are maintenance and riparian rights and responsibilities. We'll continue to work with communities and individuals wherever and whenever it's needed."

The Environment Agency has also improved the information it provides to the public and other responding agencies when flooding is forecast and occurs and continues to work with the councils to encourage greater public awareness. It is supporting over 100 communities in their production of community flood plans to increase their resilience before, during and after flooding.

Mr Woolhouse is pleased to see The Environment Agency participating in more community events. "We're continuing to work closely with the National Flood Forum to build on the success of joint flood fairs organised for residents and businesses in Oxford, Witney and Abingdon", he said.

"These events are very important because they give people the chance to speak to experts, check whether they are at risk, sign up for Floodline Warnings Direct (our free flood warning service) and take steps to prepare."

Tim Sadler, Executive Director of City Services at Oxford City Council who chairs the joint Oxfordshire group on flooding agrees that the close working relationship between the councils and the Environment Agency is paying dividends. He says: "The reality of climate change means the risk of floods is ever-present and increasing. By working together, sharing our expertise and pooling resources, we have been able to achieve far more in the past 12 months than any one of us could have accomplished alone."

Oxford - What We Have Done

• The Environment Agency response was immediate. Flood surgeries were held with local communities to identify problems and possible actions that could be taken. These were held in Oxford on 14 August and 3 September; in Wolvercote on 19 September; and the Vale of White Horse District Council in Abingdon (which includes Kennington) on 9 August.
• A £180,000 order for demountable flood defence barriers was placed for use on Osney Island. The 150m x 850mm and 260m x 450mm barriers will be stored locally at the Environment Agency's Osney Depot. Fire Service and City Council personnel - as well as Environment Agency staff -- are also being trained to use them. There will be a public demonstration of the system on 4 July.
• A programme of clearance work and silt removal, costing in the region of £50,000, has been completed on the Hinksey Drain at Redbridge, following access to Network Rail land.
• Housekeeping work on Oxford's stream system, costing more than £157,000, has been carried out by the Environment Agency's Operations Delivery team in the past year.
• £500,000 work between January and March 2007 to replace the sluice at Towles Mill - and double the size of the side channel - was hailed by the Oxford Flood Alliance, after the July floods, for increasing the flow of water through the Redbridge pinch-points.
• A Flood Fair was held in Osney Mead in Oxford on 15 November in association with the National Flood Forum. The aim was to show people how to protect their own properties.
• Oxford City Council now has additional pumps permanently available and an emergency resource trailer ready for deployment.
• A sandbag store at the Environment Agency's Osney Island Depot is set up and operational. There is an additional store at Bullskake Close and another is being set up at Florence Park.
• Supporting the work of providing a local flood plan for West Oxford.

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