Flood protection needs more funds

Many parts of Oxfordshire suffered severe flooding, pic by Libby Butler

More than a �1 million will need to be spent on improving flood protection in west Oxfordshire, according to a long-awaited council report.

The survey brings together detailed information from all the towns and parishes in the district that were affected by last year's floods.

It warns that landowners could face prosecution if they do not keep ditches and watercourses clear.

Large areas of Oxfordshire were badly affected by the floods in July 2007.

'Wettest summer'

Abingdon, Witney and Oxford suffered substantial damage.

The report outlines a new trial which will see some west Oxfordshire home owners given access to river monitoring equipment, which should give them better warning when river levels start to rise.

The latest figures from the government show 26 households in west Oxfordshire, 22 in the Vale of White Horse and 16 in Oxford are still affected by the impact of the floods.

Last year saw the wettest summer since records began in 1766. Across the country, 48,000 homes and 9,000 businesses were flooded. It caused �3.1bn worth of damage.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version