Simon Collings from Oxford Flood Alliance was interviewed this morning by BBC Radio Oxford. This followed the decision by Oxfordshire County Council to approve the planning application for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme. The interview lasted around 7 minutes and was broadcast live on the Sophie Law show at 7.20am.

Simon described the experience of being flooded in 2007, the formation of OFA, and the amount of work which has gone into the design of OFAS. Questioned about biodiversity, Simon said: ‘I record butterflies for the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, so I am as concerned as anyone about biodiversity.’ While there will be short-term disruption, Simon said, the management of the floodplain as a single entity with a goal of improving biodiversity will be better for nature in the long run.

The BBC also published a story yesterday on the County Council’s approval of the scheme in which Simon is quoted.