Work begins at Munday’s

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Work starts at Munday’s
Work starts at Munday’s

8 April 2013

Work has now begun to improve Munday’s bridge, Kennington. It has been a very long wait (see 9 March) but well worth waiting for. We have been critical of Thames Water recently, over sewer flooding in various parts of Oxford, but on Munday’s we owe them a big thank you, as their work will help not only in Kennington but in the west Oxford flood plain generally. Especial thanks too to the residents who are having to put up with months of work, including pile-driving at night.

Munday’s bridge under the railway at Kennington

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9 March 2013

We have been urging that this serious bottleneck near Redbridge be sorted out since 2007. Improvements were made in 2009, but more was needed.

Now there is a multi-partner project between Thames Water, Network Rail, Oxford City Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and Oxfordshire County Council to make further improvements. Delays due to legal issues have now been resolved, thanks to help from Oxford’s two MPs, Nicola Blackwood and Andrew Smith. We hope work will now start in early April, but as things are now almost a year late we will only be sure when it actually begins. Nevertheless, action is in sight, and will help reduce the flood risk for many people.

Shop closure – flooding one reason

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9 February 2013

Oxford Mail report: “More than 120 jobs are set to be axed at a Co-op distribution centre in Oxford. …Problems with flooding at the site were cited as one of the reasons for the plans.”
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/10217820.123_jobs_to_go_as_floods_cause_Co_op_to_close_depot/?ref=rss

Oxfordshire County Council

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19 January 2013

Oxfordshire County Council recently voted in favour of a 5% increase in the contributions of all county councils in the Thames region to the regional flood levy fund, and the vote was (just) carried in favour. This far-sighted move means that more central government funds will be attracted to schemes in Oxfordshire, rather than going elsewhere in the country. Effective flood defences for areas at highest risk will in turn curb the ever-increasing drain on Council funds when floods occur. We congratulate the Council and look forward to seeing schemes across the county in the places most at risk. Oxford is one such and we look forward to helping if we can.

Reporting sewer flooding

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3 January 2013

Where sewers are overflowing from manhole covers there is a risk that watercourses will become polluted. Such incidents can be reported, by any member of the public, to the Environment Agency Incident Hotline on 0800 807060 (Freephone, 24 hour service). Improvements are more likely to happen if incidents are reported.

Separately, the sewer company (locally Thames Water) may offer compensation if you experience sewer flooding in your house or garden. This needs to be reported directly to Thames Water. Check their website for details http://www.thameswater.co.uk/help-and-advice/3018.htm  Again, improvements are more likely to happen if incidents are reported to Thames Water as well.

Pinchpoints

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3 January 2013

River levels are still about 1m above normal in the west Oxford floodplain. This emphasises the difficulty water has in getting away from our area. It  has to get under the main-line railway to reach the Thames. There are three bridges under the railway downstream of the Botley Road.

We have been campaigning about the furthest downstream, Munday’s bridge, a 60ft bridge at Kennington, for some years. We are eagerly awaiting the start of a Thames Water project to greatly improve the flow of water under the bridge. There have been delays, but we are optimistic that the work will go ahead reasonably soon. This should reduce flooding of property and the railway line.