Funding formulas for flood protection must be reviewed so residents' homes are better protected, according to an MP.
People living in Chaunterell Way, off Drayton Road, Abingdon, and surrounding streets, are in despair after their garages and their homes were flooded twice this year.
The town avoided the worst of the flooding across the county as Storm Bert caused widespread disruption.
There was surface water on roads and surrounding villages such as Steventon were affected on Sunday as relentless rainfall and strong winds hit the county.
It has raised questions over a long-term plan for the town on the back of severe flooding this year.
The River Ock broke its banks and flood waters deluged homes in the street in January - and it happened again in September.
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Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran has raised the issue in parliament and demanded action to protect residents in south Abingdon.
She addressed Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in a Commons debate on rural affairs.
Afterwards she wrote to the minister, saying: "Following our exchange, I am writing to raise concerns about the funding criteria for new flood schemes which neglects communities like South Abingdon which are vulnerable to smaller, more frequent flooding.
"For too long, residents in my constituency have been left at the mercy of frequent flooding. The emotional and financial toll is profound, with many feeling stressed every time it rains."
Ms Moran added: "Abingdon experienced severe flooding in 2007 which affected 400 households and several local businesses, forcing some families to leave their homes for months.
"In the aftermath of 2007, the Environment Agency (EA) promised a flood defence scheme for Abingdon, but it was later abandoned as it failed to meet the criteria for the necessary government funding.
"The EA assessed that the river responds too quickly for temporary flood defences, but permanent defences were not deemed cost-effective."
The MP added that flooding in September this year saw more than a month's rainfall in a 36-hour period, with Oxford experiencing its highest level of rainfall in a 24-hour period since 1968.
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Earlier this year, Environment Agency bosses confirmed they had removed temporary flood barriers once tested to combat rising water levels on the Ock.
The agency admitted there was currently no existing flood plan for the town.
Following the latest incident in September, Chaunterell Way householder Jim King, a leading member of the Ock Valley Flood Group, said: "The Environment Agency tested some flood barriers to protect our homes - they cost about £8m - and then they took them away and we have been left to fend for ourselves.
"The only thing that has changed since January is that a shipping container has been put in the field behind our homes which is supposed to be where sandbags are stored, but there were none in there."
One South Abingdon resident told Ms Moran: "It feels like all we can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst as there doesn’t appear to be the funding to make any long-term solutions.”
The MP said the current funding formula favoured large-scale schemes for larger communities, with the Environment Agency not delivering vital smaller-scale schemes, leaving small communities increasingly vulnerable to frequent flooding.
She told Mr Reed in her letter: "The growing frequency of these events, coupled with the constant anxiety they cause, must be better reflected in the funding policy to ensure these communities receive the protection they urgently need."
She urged the minister to outline what consideration his department has given to revising the funding criteria for new flood schemes to include better consideration for smaller, more frequent floods that are being experienced more regularly in smaller communities like Abingdon.
The Environment Agency has been asked to comment.
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About the author
Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here.
He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.
His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning.
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