River Windrush bank near Woodford Mill, Witney - repairs delayed

Bad weather and an extended wait for Environment Agency (EA) permits have held back the scheme to fix the breach west of Woodford Mill in Witney, Wednesday's meeting of West Oxfordshire District Council's cabinet was told.

Norman MacRae, the council's cabinet member for environment, revealed the project could cost up to £10,000 more than expected and hopes to receive an updated report next month.

A temporary dam was originally scheduled to be installed last month, but this was scuppered by heavy rainfall.

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Mr MacRae said: “We were all ready to start work when the rain came, with the result that the river level rose considerably.

“When the level fell again after some weeks, phase one work was attempted but, whilst there was success at raising level of the river, the flow rate was too great and bags started to move and became dangerously unstable.

“There was the risk and concern that the failure of the dam would create a surge of water.

“The inference was the danger downstream from ‘dam burst’ to the men in the water - therefore the work had to be abandoned on health and safety grounds.”

The bank collapsed to create a new water course earlier this year, raising fears that it could endanger wildlife.

The water level dropped in the relief streams running off the Windrush, while the weir next to the river virtually dried up.

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In May, council engineers proposed a two-part repair scheme after speaking to the EA.

Phase one was building the dam, while the bank will be reinstated during phase two.

Work was originally budgeted at £45,000, but Mr MacRae said the 'probable' cost would now be between £50,000 and £55,000.

He added £20,000 has so far been spent on preparation works, the Environment Agency permit, plant, labour and materials, £15,000 of which was on the aborted temporary repairs.

Engineers are still hoping to work on a permanent fix in 'late summer', once the agency has reissued permits.

The councillor said permanent repairs would take at least two months if a road closure is needed, due to a crane being required.

Senior engineer, Laurence King, recently met with a contractor to discuss permanent repairs before he submits a report for additional funding.

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The issue was due to be discussed by the council's environment overview and scrutiny committee yesterday, but the meeting was cancelled due to a 'lack of business'.

This was less than one month after the council declared a climate emergency, leaving Andrew Coles, district councillor for Witney Central, unimpressed.

He said: “Given the severity of the crisis in our climate, the council’s poor record of delivering on its environmental obligations and the huge task it has set itself, it should be all shoulders to the wheel."

But committee chair, David Harvey, said the meeting was cancelled on officers' advice and it was not unusual.

He said: “It doesn’t mean we don’t take the breach in the Windrush, air pollution or the environment seriously."