Network Rail have begun work to raise the track at Stroud’s bridge under the railway, just south of the old Abingdon road.
‘Oxford and the Thames: a national hotspot for freshwater wildlife’
Talk on 29 June by Jeremy Biggs of the Freshwater Habitats Trust
Jeremy Biggs gave an interesting and inspiring talk, ‘Oxford and the Thames: a national hotspot for freshwater wildlife’, in South Hinksey yesterday; it was well attended by professionals and members of the public alike.
The overall message was that the Oxford area, including (but much wider than) the area of the OFAS channel, is of relatively high quality (on a national scale) for freshwater wildlife. Nevertheless, there have been local extinctions and a gradual decline over the last century. Clean, unpolluted water is vital to any attempt to reverse the decline.
A lively discussion followed.
To make the most of the possible environmental enhancements from the OFAS scheme more detailed proposals will be developed. More could be achieved if additional, separate funding could be obtained. Such work could make a contribution to reversing the gradual decline and enable lessons to be learnt as to how to do this best.
Oxford FAS June newsletter
Click here for the June 2016 Oxford FAS newsletter.
Public meeting – Oxford FAS proposed route to be unveiled
The preferred route for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme will be unveiled tomorrow at Oxford Town Hall at a drop-in event open to all.
A talk: Oxford and the Thames – a national hotspot for freshwater wildlife
Later this month, Dr Jeremy Biggs of the Freshwater Habitats Trust will be giving a talk at South Hinksey Village Hall, on Wednesday 29 June at 2pm titled Oxford and the Thames: a national hotspot for freshwater wildlife, in association with the Oxford Flood Alliance.
He’ll look at what makes the Oxford area a national hotspot for freshwater wildlife, what problems freshwaters in the area face and what the solutions are. He’ll consider what the impact of the new flood channel could be and how it could help reverse the century-long decline in the areas freshwaters. There is more information at http://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/oxford-and-the-thames-a-national-hotspot/ or in the flyer Oxford and the Thames_talk flyer_Jun16 FINAL.
The talk is free and anyone may attend but space is limited so if you think you would like to come along please let Jo Fever at Freshwater Habitats know so we can try and ensure there is space for all: info@freshwaterhabitats.org.uk or phone 01865 595505.
Cambridge ‘Moisture in Buildings’ conference
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- Adrian Porter speaking at the Property Care Association conference in Cambridge.
Following an invitation from Steve Hodgson of the Property Care Association, Adrian Porter of OFA spoke at their ‘Moisture in Buildings’ conference in Cambridge on 12 May 2016. Adrian writes:
‘It was interesting to be able to inform the building trade of the direct benefit that their work can have on consumers, from a very personal perspective, and also how they and the insurance industry need to collaborate to enable homeowners to make the right decision on property level protection.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only do the PCA acknowledge the need to improve standards across the building sector, but also that their members are hugely passionate about resolving the problems created by poor workmanship once and for all, for each homeowner.’
Delegate comments and the presentations can be found here:
http://www.property-care.org/annual-conference-2016/review-conference-moisture-buildings/
Flood Re (insurance)
Andrew Smith MP has kindly sent us this useful Q & A about Flood Re.
Clean Water for Wildlife – II
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- Northfield Brook
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- Nick Hills at Boundary Brook
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- Oxford Canal
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- Littlemore Brook
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- Elder Stubbs pond
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- Pond in Port Meadow by Wolvercote
This study has now closed – we contributed results on samples from 31 locations (a few are shown above) – see previous post Clean Water for Wildlife.
As far as we know, this study, by the Freshwater Habitats Trust, is the first of its kind in the UK.
We’ll post the results when they become available.
Further comment on Network Rail’s planning application for track-raising
We submitted our comments on the latest revision (A02) of Network Rail’s flood risk assessment (FRA) for their planning application for track-raising yesterday.
The planning application is number 15/03703 and details can be found on Oxford City Council’s planning portal https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20066/planning_applications/328/view_and_comment_on_planning_applications
The application is going to West Area Planning Committee for determination on 3 May at 2 pm at the Town Hall.
See also our earlier post https://oxfordfloodalliance.org.uk/2016/03/28/network-rails-planning-application-for-track-raising/
Flood Re
We welcome the recent launch of the Flood Re insurance scheme, which should ensure every homeowner can get affordable flood insurance for their property, but only if it leads to wholesale changes to the way the insurance industry responds to flood events.
Insurers are being asked to pay into a central fund that will be used to cover the cost of claims made by homeowners affected by flooding. This should mean an end to the sky-high insurance premiums and policy excesses that many of us have had to endure over the years, and will allow people to insure their homes against flooding when previously it was unaffordable. The flip side is that it is likely insurers will pass the cost of the creating the fund onto all their policy holders which will result in an average increase in annual premiums of about £10.50 per household. It is also only available to owner-occupied properties, not those in rental accommodation.
To find out more and to see whether your insurance company have signed up to the scheme please visit http://www.floodre.co.uk.
Although a positve first step, we at OFA would like to see insurers work to reduce the total amount paid out due to flooding by:
- Contributing to local and national schemes that reduce the impact of flooding
- Advising and incentivising homeowners to protect their properties appropriately
- Working with local agencies to ensure adequate response is provided during and immediately after a flood event.
oxford flood alliance 