THE Northway and Marston Flood Alleviation Scheme is necessary to correct errors made in decision-making processes – approving development without sufficient pipework infrastructure, removing green spaces, trees and shrubbery, our original water storage.

Roy Darke is city councillor for Headington and Northway, previously county councillor, chairman of the east area planning committee who taught Town Planning, and bears responsibility for decisions made with development.

The aim of the £2.2m scheme is to divert flash flood water from the culvert behind the Boxing Academy in Saxon Road to temporary storage in Northway field, also Court Place Farm, then return it later slowly through the drains.

The scheme will not solve the mistakes with drainage at Court Place Farm (Oxford Mail, December 3) The scheme will not improve the antiquated pipework or the failing sewerage system in Northway and Marston.

The sewage storage tanks were not designed to cope with the increased amount of development, including Barton Park which has now started.

I was pleased to be informed on February 12 that the scheme heading will remove the wording ‘with 91 properties being completely removed from the known risk of flooding’ (Oxford Mail January 28) as we cannot know which properties they are.

The input of Betty Fletcher, Mick Haines, independent councillor for Marston, and others provided the evidence required to promote the flood alleviation scheme.

We will continue to champion for improved sewerage and drainage.

Statutory works should be put in place at weak points in Northway and Marston (not just Ferry Rd) (Oxford Mail, January 28) prior to Thames Waters sewage survey results due later this year, hopefully with an effective long lasting solution .

My address to full council (Oxford Mail, January 14) was valid and useful. No evidence was produced of any ongoing projects mentioned in their response.

ELAINE BENNETT
Marston Road, Oxford