A follow up meeting of people who expressed interest in forming a flood group for South Oxford will take place this coming Monday at South Oxford Community Centre (see poster below). This follows the successful public event in South Oxford on 21 March which focused on groundwater flooding, a particular risk in this area of the city.
Monday’s meeting will bring together interested local residents to discuss what a flood group might focus on, and what support they need from Project Groundwater, Oxford Flood Alliance and others. Our hope is that this will result in the formation of a group which will begin to map out a series of activities to raise awareness of flood risk in the neighbourhood, what people can do about it, and to provide advice and information during flood events.
Tuesday 9 April marks the 100th day of 2024 and Seacourt Park & Ride extension has not been open to the public for a single one of those days. Following flooding in January the council cleaned it on 2 February, presumably with an intention of opening it to the public. It had been free of all flooding and pooled water for about a week. However, it had been raining in the preceding days, and the car park started to flood once more on 3 February, the very day after it had been cleaned. It has been underwater to a greater or lesser extent ever since.
Clean up 2 February11 February – back to this3 April – flooding still visible in the P&R extension
Oxford Flood Alliance warned the council in 2016 that the proposed car park extension lay in Flood Zone 3b, the functional floodplain, and it was not suitable development for that location. National planning policy (the NPPF and its accompanying Technical Guidance) stipulates that a Flood Zone 3b location is only suitable for ‘water-compatible’ development and for ‘essential infrastructure… that would remain operational and safe for users in times of flood.’
We submitted at the time that the developer underestimated the extent to which the site flooded. Their consultants had projected that it would be shut on average for 10 days every year due to flooding, a conclusion they had reached by leaving the years of most extensive flooding out of their assessment. We argued at the time that this was an inaccurate representation of the true nature of the site, and did not account for climate change. So far this year alone, it has been shut for 10 times that anticipated duration.
By comparison, the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme is an example of the type of development in a Flood Zone 3b location that is compatible with the NPPF, since it remains operational in times of flood (to serve its very purpose) and also is ‘essential infrastructure’, helping to reduce the impact of flooding across Oxford. Oxford Flood Alliance supports this example of responsible development in the floodplain.
On this 100th day of 2024, the 100th day of the year on which the Seacourt Park & Ride extension remains closed to the public, we urge the council to give national and local planning policies the weight they deserve, in particular in relation to flooding. National planning policy exists for a good reason. It is a material consideration for planning committees, and they ignore it at their peril.
Last night’s meeting on flooding in South Oxford attracted around 70 local residents interested to learn more about what can be done to reduce flood risk. The meeting was hosted and introduced by Cllr Anna Railton, who set the scene by describing the floods of January and February this year and issues arising.
David Macdonald, a geo-hydrologist who lives locally, gave an overview of groundwater flooding which is a particular problem in South Oxford. Rising river levels push up groundwater, and one way to reduce risk, he said, is to lower river levels.
This is what the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme aims to achieve, and Richard Harding from the Environment Agency gave a quick overview of the project. Mat Lloyd, also from the EA, spoke briefly about community flood preparedness.
Karen Fisher and Jed Ramsay then talked about Project Groundwater, a Defra funded initiative which aims to build resilience in communities particularly affected by groundwater flooding. South Oxford is one of the areas they are specifically targeting with advice and support. One issue Jed talk about was early warning systems for groundwater using advanced technologies.
Simon Collings spoke finally about Oxford Flood Alliance and gave an example from January this year of the way community organisation prevented flooding.
At the end of the meeting a number of people expressed interest in learning more about becoming a flood warden and about developing a flood plan. OFA will working in partnership with Project Groundwater in helping to create enhanced community organisation around flooding in South Oxford. The resources which Project Groundwater bring to this venture provide a great opportunity for improving the community’s resilience.
Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, of course, remains critical to reducing flood risk in the city. Several people said they would be writing to the County Council urging them to give planning consent for the scheme.
Following the flooding in early 2014, OFA steering group member Richard Thurston, surveyed residents in west Oxford about their experiences with flooding. This included questions on sewers and the response led to a meeting between Thames Water and our then MP Nicola Blackwood on Friday 28 February. The notes Richard prepared for the meeting covered a familiar set of issues.
sewage in rear garden:
inability to use the toilet;
aving to travel to Marks and Spencer in the city centre to use the toilet;
unpleasant smells from toilets;
toilet taking longer to flush;
sewage discharging into the street;
preference not to use the lavatory as sewage was flowing into the garden which then flowed into the kitchen;
inconsistent approach to clean-up – sewage in garden cleared by TW in January, but not in February;
inability to allow children into the garden because of problems with sewage;
poor investigation by TW of complaints, overall apparent lack of willingness to do anything about the problems with sewers being overwhelmed by flood water, despite no obvious cause of floodwater;
Richard received responses (including survey responses, emails, phone calls and oral testimony) from residents in Abbey Road, Arthur Road, Botley Road, Barrett Street, Binsey Village, Bridge Street, Duke Street, Earl Street, East Street, Helen Road, Hill View Road, Mill Street, Oatlands Road, South Street, West Street.
Though these issues were raised with Thames Water little has been done since to tackle residents concerns, and the flooding early this year resulted in the same problems with surcharging sewers, sewage in homes, gardens and businesses, and problems for people using downstairs toilets.
OFA has taken these issues up with our current MP Layla Moran who is pressing Thames Water for explanations.
Oxford Flood Alliance will be speaking at a public meeting on flooding in south Oxford and what can be done about it. This area of Oxford has particular issues with groundwater though the neighbourhood is also affected by river flooding.
David Macdonald, a hydrologist and local resident, will explain how groundwater flooding occurs, Jed Ramsay from Project Groundwater, a government funded initiative which is working with the community, will talk about local resilience and mitigation, Richard Harding from the Environment Agency will talk about the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme and how this will benefit local residents, and Simon Collings from OFA will talk about the work of the alliance.
The meeting has been organised by the local city councillors, Anna Railton and Naomi Waite, and will be chaired by Cllr Railton. Information about flood insurance, Project Groundwater and the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme will be available at the event.
The meeting will take place on 21 March, 7pm, at South Oxford Christian Centre, Wytham Street, OX1 4TW.
The Environment Agency has objected to plans for a large housing development just north of Oxford because they believe the Thames Water sewer network will not cope with the extra load.
‘Thames Water’s treatment plant in Oxford has been illegally discharging sewage for six years, causing significant risk to the rivers and environment from pollution, the EA has said.
‘The increased pressure on the sewage infrastructure from 1,450 new houses planned to the north of Oxford would pose an unacceptable risk of pollution into waterways, the agency said in a letter of objection.
‘It warned it was “not acceptable” for a new housing development to go ahead until Thames Water had carried out the required investment to bring the works within legal limits.’
In recent weeks we have seen dilute sewage leaking out of manhole covers at various locations in west Oxford. We’ve also seen houses and businesses flooded by sewage. All of this sewage is then washing into the local river system. We have asked Thames Water to explain what is going on and what hey plan to do about it but have so far had no adequate response. We have raised the issue with Layla Moran MP.
Without serious investments by Thames Water, more development in the city will result in increased risk of sewer flooding for local residents, and more discharges of sewage polluting our rivers. We must have independent proof that improvements Thames Water plan to make at the Oxford Sewage Treatment Works are adequate and that the company is meeting its legal obligations before more connections are made to the system.
Oxford Flood Alliance welcomes this intervention by the EA.
Liz Sawyer from Oxford Flood Alliance is quoted in a story in the Oxford Mail today about overflowing sewers in the Botley Rd area. Floodwater which has infiltrated the sewer network is causing manhole covers to overflow and has resulted in flooding in some homes and businesses.
Annie Blows, who lives on Botley Road, said sewage is pumping out of the drains in her laundry room and out across her garden: ‘You can see it’s full of loo roll and all sorts. It’s terrifying to think about the health risk.’
Outside in the street sewage is leaking from drain covers and forming large puddles. It is fountaining out of a manhole cover in the middle of the Botley Road. Sewage is also pooling in the Waitrose service area, the store remains open as usual.
Ms Blows said a Thames Water representative told her they ‘had to make a decision about whether to flood us, the vets, and the other few houses in our row, or risk 300 other houses.’
‘Some notice would have been good,’ she added. ‘We could have moved our appliances and furniture – but as it is everything’s damaged.’
Sewage in Annie Blows’ laundry roomSewage bubbling out in Botley RdLeaking sewer cover near bus stop
Liz Sawyer, who lives further along Botley Rd, says her family has had to stop using their downstairs loo because it flushes away so slowly. Liz says: ‘There have been bubbling drains and inspection chambers in the area for weeks – even when the water was lower than it is now. There are several in North Hinksey village. The system seems to be under pressure in a way that hasn’t happened before. This is deeply worrying.’
‘Thames Water is contributing to the budget for the planned Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (OFAS), because the company believes it will help reduce these sewage leaks, caused by ageing infrastructure. But there are clearly major issues ahead for Thames Water, as climate change worsens.’
Thames Water have had staff in the area and have been using tankers to try to pump out sewage from the system to relieve the pressure. The company told the Oxford Mail they have ‘arranged for an extensive clean and investigation of our sewers to identify any obstructions which may be disrupting the flow in the area.’
Flooding was top of the agenda for delegates attending the National Farmers Union conference last week, according to a report in today’s Guardian. Up and down the country framers report having had one of their worst winter’s ever with fields inundate, crops ruined and planting delayed. Demand for seed for spring sowing has driven up prices because of scarcity of supply.
‘In the 12 months to January,’ the article says, ‘only four of England’s 139 hydrological areas (regions around rivers, lakes and other water sources) were classed as having normal rainfall levels. Of the remaining areas, 47 were rated as having notably high levels, and 76 – more than half – were deemed exceptionally high.’
These figures demonstrate just how serious flooding is becoming across the country and why the government needs to do more in response.
Forecasts for this years grain harvest predict a 25% drop in yields. Some farmers are calling for better flood protection and higher levels of compensation.
South Hinksey could have a permanent flood bund in place by the end of 2025 if the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme gets the go ahead in the coming months. The Environment Agency has said the permanent bund would be ‘upfront in the build programme’, so if spades went in the ground this year South Hinksey would start to benefit immediately.
Adrian Porter of OFA, who lives in the village, said. ‘By winter 2025 we’d likely be protected. With a bit of good luck later this year, this really could be our last flood.’
Demountable barriers are currently in place in South Hinksey because of the high floodwater levels. It is the second time this year the defences have been deployed. In January the barriers went up too late to stop some property flooding, so this time the EA have acted quickly to have equipment in place in case it’s needed.
The deployment of temporary defences, Adrian says, has become ‘depressingly normal’. There was a barrier deployment in 2021, a near deployment in 2022, and now two deployments in 2024.
Barriers being erected in South HinkseyFlood barrier crossing a resident’s garden
‘Each time the disruption for the community is significant,’ Adrian explains, ‘with the farm yard and car-park occupied, horses displaced, gardens churned up and rotas of people to keep an eye on things overnight as the EA don’t have the staff to do it themselves.’
The decision to deploy is made by an over-stretched agency with input from advisors, flood modelling data, on-the-ground photographs and other ground-truthing evidence. It is inevitably a balance of strategy, finance, operations and infrastructure. In January the EA got the timing wrong, an awful 48 hours ensued and several properties flooded as a result.
This is totally avoidable. OFAS, which is awaiting planning consent, would mean the village wouldn’t need to rely on the vagaries of human decision-making and temporary barriers. Protection would be there every day of every year.
‘We are a beautifully diverse community of young and old,’ Adrian says, ‘who thrive despite the lack of pub and shop. We work so hard to make this the perfect place for children to grow up and for everyone to enjoy, but with flooding an ever-present threat it is hard to feel completely safe. There is a solution. Let’s get on and deliver the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme.’
The Oxford Mail picked up on this story. You can read their version online here.
With river levels rising again the Environment is today deploying flood barriers in South Hinksey as a precaution against possible flooding. In January the agency responded too late to a rapidly changing situation resulting in some property flooding. River levels on the Thames downstream from Osney Lock are currently 30cms below the January peak, but more heavy rain is forecast for tomorrow. The agency is taking no chances this time to ensure defences are in place if needed.
oxford flood alliance 