We attended a ‘Councillor Update’ on the scheme at County Hall last evening. Cllr Rodney Rose introduced the evening, followed by contributions from the Environment Agency, Oxford City Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). There was a good attendance from councillors, and plenty of questions and discussion after the presentations.
Natural flood management, climate change and Oxford: a symposium
Oxford Flood Alliance are hosting their Second Flood Symposium this week, in collaboration with the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford. The meeting is fully subscribed.
The topic is Natural flood management, climate change and Oxford.
We will publish a summary of the proceedings on this website.
Maintenance – site visit to junction of Hinksey Stream and Hinksey Drain
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- L to R: Peter Collins, Peter Rawcliffe, Steve Smith, Adrian Porter on site
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- Railway line behind, concrete box culverts carrying Hinksey Stream under the railway can just be seen
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- “Main River” !! – obstructed ++
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- As last
Four of us met this afternoon to inspect this important area. Hinksey Stream and Hinksey Drain are designated Main Rivers: the visit today was to the point, south of South Hinksey, at which the Stream goes under the mainline railway and the Drain diverges from it.
As mentioned on our Home Page we are determined that maintenance of the waterways is properly planned for and given high priority, so everything works as well as possible. We want to see riparian owners fulfilling their legal responsibilities to keep waterways clear. We have for years been agitating that this particular area receive attention as it is in an appallingly poor state.
Today’s meeting took this an important step further on. Present were Peter Collins, Environment Agency, Steve Smith, engineer from Oxford City, and Adrian Porter and Peter Rawcliffe from OFA. There was unanimous agreement that extensive clearance of this area is needed as soon as possible. Steve Smith will be checking on the ownership – once this is certain, Peter Collins will work with whoever it is (seems likely to be Oxford City or Network Rail) and the tenant farmer of the adjacent field, to start clearance asap (subject to bird nesting).
These photos can only give an idea of just how very badly looked after this vital area is. We thank Steve and Peter for taking this on and will be supporting them if any difficulties arise.
Maintenance meeting
Peter Rawcliffe of OFA met with Peter Collins of the Environment Agency today. Discussion was to take forward proposals to get riparian owners to undertake maintenance of local waterways.
Ownership maps will be shared; a site visit was arranged for 19 March to the Coldharbour area of Hinksey Stream where there is serious, longstanding, obstruction; we hope a representative from Oxford City Council will be able to attend too.
More pumps for Earl Street
A pump and sump scheme that will provide enhanced protection against groundwater to properties in Earl Street has been approved by the City Council. The scheme was devised by residents Nick Hills (of OFA) and Andy Webber, with input from Paul Kirkley from the council. Paul has been hugely supportive on the ground and with grant applications. Andy stepped down from OFA steering group a while ago, but remains very active in local flood prevention and protection. The scheme will be funded by aggregating individual property Repair and Resilience Grants from Defra, via the City Council, as a community scheme. A contractor has been approved, and work is expected to commence imminently.
Thames Water’s Oxford (sewer) Catchment Study – meeting
Two of us met with two people from Thames Water today. Thames Water are getting on with the first stages of their Oxford Catchment Study, designed to find out why we get sewer flooding in many parts of Oxford. Some technical studies have already been done, house to house interviews with residents in affected areas will begin quite soon. A dedicated website should be up and running shortly, possibly as early as next week.
We are delighted that this study is happening – Oxford is one of only five places in Thames Water’s area to be having such a detailed study. This is a necessary first stage in, hopefully, getting action to remedy the problems. We are helping in any way we can.
This study will be used, along with other evidence, to guide Thames Water when they consider how much the proposed Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme would help solve sewer problems – and hence, presumably, how much they could consider contributing to that multi-partner scheme.
Thames Water agree how important it is that when new building is proposed that there is adequate prior consideration given, i.e. at the planning stage, to whether the sewer system will be able to cope.
South Hinksey groundwork – update
South Hinksey: groundwork for temporary flood barriers
Permissions have to be obtained, plans drawn and contracts agreed, so it will be a time till diggers appear. Funding is thanks to the Vale of White Horse District Council. Execution is shared between the Council and the Environment Agency. Surveying has begun. Work on the ground is now expected to begin in September.
Flood Repair and Renew grant – extended eligibility and deadlines
Andrew Smith MP has kindly sent us this recent letter about the Flood Repair and Renew Grant scheme.
The key points are
1. the eligibility period has been extended back to April 2013;
2. deadlines for applications have been extended.
Flooding and farmland
An interesting article (in December) in the Oxford Mail from Andrew Ingram of the CLA
South Hinksey barrier-ready groundwork given the go-ahead
South Hinksey’s community demo last October sought financial support for groundwork so we would be able to use temporary flood barriers to protect the village. Great news that our Vale District Council has agreed to pay for this groundwork – needed to level the land, and provide for crossing a field ditch.
Permissions have to be sought, plans drawn and contracts agreed, so it will be some time till diggers appear. Surveying has already begun.
While the Environment Agency cannot promise barriers till the day, the omens are good. The ground will be ready, as will our community team to put the barrier up.
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