Sir - Most of old Abingdon narrowly escaped in the recent floods, thanks to the extensive water meadows in the floodplain.

Residents on the banks of the River Ock were not so lucky but then its floodplain, once allotments and fields, now is the home for a large supermarket with extensive parking.

Hotels and new housing line the normally innocent-looking stream.

Before the deluge reached Abingdon, the water spread into the floodplain, over the meadows of Kennington, Lower Radley, and almost encircled a large dam-like construction to the west of the railway bridge over the Thames, which holds spent coal ash from Didcot A power station.

This construction, euphemistically called Lakes H/I, was lost to the floodplain about five years ago, as were other lakes some years before.

To the north of H/I, the two remaining Radley Lakes (Thrupp and Bullfield) filled up with water, spilled over into the surrounding woodland and joined up as one lake. They retained surface waters, flood water and groundwater safely until the flood had abated.

Householders close to Abingdon Bridge may rue the day when Lakes H/I and others were removed from the floodplain.

What will happen if Thrupp Lake is also filled with ash? The Environment Agency has allowed these blockages of Abingdon's floodplain to occur. What will happen if the Oxford Flood Relief Channel is eventually built?

Gunilla Harbour, Abingdon