23 May 2013. See April 24 and earlier.
Tag Archives: Thames Water
Munday’s again
Looking north
Looking south
See April 8 and earlier
Work begins at Munday’s
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
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.
Reporting sewer flooding
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
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.
Sewers overflowing
28 December 2012
Sewers are overflowing in Earl Street today, adding to the list of overloaded sewers in Oxford.
If you have sewer overflow into your garden or property you may be entitled to compensation from Thames Water.
Sewer flooding
South Hinksey, Christmas Day 2012
25 December 2012
Overflowing sewers being emptied on behalf of Thames Water (TW) in South Hinksey on Christmas Day. A big thank you to the men doing the work for the last few days and right through the Christmas season.
Sewer flooding has been a problem in parts of Botley, North and South Hinksey and Kennington for some years, but notably worse in the last three or four. Heavy rain regularly results in manholes overflowing with foul effluent. Before and during the November river floods, sewage overflowed in large amounts in South Hinksey, into houses, gardens and streets. The contaminated effluent entered local watercourses – pollution reports have been filed by the Environment Agency. Nicola Blackwood, MP, called a Public Meeting in South Hinksey. In a packed hall, Thames Water apologised for what had happened, and that some failings of theirs had not helped. They agreed, among other things, to publish plans to address hydraulic overload, blockages and the upgrade of Littlemore pumping station, to include an overview of timelines.
In the threatened floods now, TW tankers have been in South Hinksey regularly to empty the sewers, making a great improvement on November. The community now awaits the promised plans. There must be serious problems somewhere, which desperately need sorting out, because the sewers overflow when there is no river flooding – and more seriously in the last few years.
The Abingdon Road area had very similar problems in the November floods, with tankers employed to relieve the sewers.
Sewers get overloaded in flood conditions in parts of the Botley Road area.
Munday’s bridge, 22 Sept 2012
22 September 2012
Thames Water is about to begin work to sort out the area of Munday’s bridge under the railway in Kennington. As well as dealing with local flooding in Kennington, the work will allow the whole western floodplain to drain better, to the benefit of all in our area upstream. All credit, and thanks, to Thames Water for doing this substantial and important work. See http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/yourtown/oxford/9883845.Flood_prevention_scheme_goes_on_show/
We have been concerned about this area since we formed in 2007. That concern arose from the special local knowledge of John Mastroddi, a founder member of OFA’s Steering Group, who had been concerned for many years before that. His garden backs onto the site, although his house has never flooded. The local flooded community owes a debt to John and his wife, and their neighbours, for the sacrifices they are making so this work can be done: see our recent letter to the Oxford Times:
http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/forum/letters/9928463.Sacrifices_to_save_flood_misery/
Munday’s bridge, December 2011
15 December 2011
Progress after years of trying! Thames Water have a project to improve flood water drainage off the Kennington Road and this will include extensive work at Munday’s to ensure that water can then get away from the area. This is extremely good news, as Munday’s is a severe pinchpoint holding water back in the floodplain west of the railway. Thames Water hope to start work in the spring.
oxford flood alliance 