Last winter’s flooding in Oxford caused significant damage and disruption and one can only guess at the costs incurred. It is impossible to put a value on the distress caused to those who were affected directly by flooding or indirectly by the transport problems. We need to find a way to reduce the chances of the 2007 and 2013 floods happening again and to reduce the impact when the river is in spate.
Proper river maintenance should be an integrated programme. New large capital schemes should only be considered when the normal maintenance can be shown to be insufficient. Politicians like to make big announcements that catch the headlines. These stories often make a big splash of the amount of money that will be spent. It would be difficult to get coverage for an announcement saying that routine maintenance is to be done. Politicians find it more convenient to cut revenue spending and announce capital projects rather than maintaining or even increasing revenue budgets.
Abingdon Road allotments during the floods in February Picture: www.airexperiences.co.uk
The Western Conveyance project is one of these schemes that the politicians like to announce. This scheme is being promoted at the expense of routine work and thus exposing local residents to higher flood risk in the short term. It might be that the Western Conveyance does reduce flooding and flood risk in the long term, but it is essential that routine work is carried out in the mean time. On the other hand it may prove to be unnecessary.
In your article, Peter Collins says that the Environment Agency would be asking for funding now to dredge the backwaters in West Oxford, and then asking for the money again when construction of the Western Conveyance begins. If dredging was carried out in the near future and maintained until construction starts then the cost of dredging when construction starts would be reduced.
Today’s letters
He also asks where the spoil would placed. There is actually a simple answer: when the Osney Cut was being dug, the spoil was used to raise the river bank just below Godstow Lock. Over the years, due to lack of maintenance, the bank here has eroded almost completely away. This was a contributing factor to the extent of last winter’s flooding.
Keeping rivers clear of obstructions and dredged is an important part of flood prevention measures. A cursory glance at the streams and ditches that cross the Botley Road will reveal a large number of obstructions all of which reduce the flow rate.
I am yet to be convinced that the Western Conveyance project is needed. I am, however, absolutely convinced that funding is urgently needed for routine maintenance. Come on David Cameron, DEFRA, and the EA look after and fund our river properly.
Kate Pearce
Branch Secretary Unite Berkshire,
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Community Branch
- Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here