On-going maintenance is essential. People can help by telling us if they see obstructions. These branches and rubbish on Bulstake Stream were cleared promptly by the Environment Agency in November 2014 after being reported to us by members of the public.
31 October 2014
OFA stand at the Oxfordshire Flood Fair this afternoon, manned by Nick Hills, Peter Rawcliffe, John Mastroddi and Simon Collings. The National Flood Forum and all the ‘flood agencies’ represented. Good attendance, interesting discussion – a useful afternoon. Well done to the County Council for organising this event.
Oxford floodplain in 2008, a little water in the fields
27 October 2014
Two meetings.
First: we are represented on the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (Oxford FAS) (‘the Scheme’) Sponsorship Group – the committee backing these proposals. A few points:
• There is a long, rigorous assessment procedure to be gone through; it’s up to timetable.
• The economic case stacks up.
• The Scheme cannot risk making things worse downstream: this is key and must be established. [FWIW our view has long been that a successful scheme must keep water moving, getting it away earlier and not allowing it to build up enough to flood roads and buildings. But this will not send MORE water downstream, it doesn’t ‘generate new water’, it will only alter the time course. (Note that our flood plain will still flood, just not quite so deep.) That seems to make sense, but more rigorous evidence will rightly be required re any possible downstream effects.]
• The Scheme will enhance the natural environment.
• Public access will be better (cycle paths, footpaths).
• Climate change projections, if they come to pass, would make things very much worse than now, making the Scheme in our view even more imperative.
• The Scheme will have as an integral part measures (such as property-level protection) to help local areas/properties that are not ‘saved’ by the removal of existing pinch-points and the more efficient water flow in a redesigned watercourse. (NB that is not a guarantee that every property will be protected.)
Our support for the Scheme is now stronger than ever. But we know others have doubts or other ideas – if you want to discuss these please do come to our APM on November 13th (see below, 16 Oct). We will be there (of course!) and so will the EA.
Second: three of us met with Richard Harding of the EA Project Team for the Scheme. John Mastroddi (of OFA) presented the data from his own observations during the 2013/14 floods: these show that, as in the 1947 and other floods, that there is a 60cm difference in flood levels across the railway near Kennington. This is therefore the serious pinch-point and overcoming it is essential. John also presented his novel ideas about what might be done at Sandford-on-Thames as part of the Scheme: his ideas will now be considered during the assessment process.
Tree in Castle Mill Stream. Reported September, cleared October 2014.
26 October 2014
Our new ‘Watcher’ of Castle Mill Stream, William Edginton, has just reported back that the trees etc obstructing Castle Mill Stream have been cleared. Good news. We’d like to recruit other ‘River Watchers’ so that obstructions can be dealt with as quickly as possible.
25 October 2014
Successful South Hinksey ‘demo’ to press for temporary barriers should flooding come again. OFA supported the PC and community – who are asking for preparatory groundwork to be done by the Vale District Council. The village will provide volunteers to erect the barrier. Well over 100 people came from throughout the parish, plus OFA Steering Group members, and formed a ‘human barrier’. Our MP Nicola Blackwood, our Labour PPC Sally Copley and our LibDem PPC Layla Moran were all there supporting us. The event was reported, with photograph, in the Oxford Mail and Oxford Times.
17 October 2014
On BBC Radio Oxford’s breakfast show to comment on Thames Water’s plans for a major survey of Oxford’s sewers.
16 October 2014
Our own Annual Public Meeting is on Thursday 13th November 2014, 7 for 7.30pm, the Demos, Osney Island, Oxford.
All welcome. Come and learn more about the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme and long-stretch maintenance.
Ask us questions, tell us what you think, discuss topics such as upstream storage and delaying run-off. Anything about flooding.
16 October 2014
OAFP annual public meeting this evening at which Thames Water announced news of a £1million+ study of the Oxford area catchment sewers, over the next 2-3 years. This will result in a business plan to take appropriate action. That will then have to be funded. Welcome news, well done all who have worked towards this, not least Oxford City Council and local MPs, but most of all to Thames Water themselves.
An interesting meeting, and well attended, but we missed the open floor question session that disappeared last year; hope it’ll be back next year.
15 October 2014
OFA is working with the City Council on a plan to upgrade the static pumps at the southern end of Earl Street, and to install either sumps and pumps or a static/passive drainage system to protect the rear of properties on both sides in conjunction with property-level protection. Nick Hills will be meeting council officers shortly to finalise plans. We are hopeful that funds will be made available through DEFRA grants.
14 October 2014
Some key points
oxford flood alliance 