SIXTY homes in the county are to get protection from flooding at a cost of nearly £350,000.

The money will pay for emergency flood barriers, waterproof floor and wall coverings, airbrick covers and special valves to prevent drains backing up.

As part of a £5m national package of Government funding, Oxford City Council has been awarded £119,700 to protect 21 homes in Marsh Road, Cowley; the Vale of White Horse District Council £51,300 for nine homes in Cumnor Road, Wootton; and West Oxfordshire District Council £171,000 for 30 homes in Witney and Bampton.

Oxford City Council applied for money to carry out work in Marsh Road because it is prone to problems caused by flash flooding due to heavy rain.

A spokesman said that homes in the west and south of the city did not qualify for funding under this scheme, because they would benefiting from the Environment Agency’s £100m strategy to divert flood water away from Botley and New Hinksey via a new flood relief channel.

Flood barriers costing £180,000 were bought to protect Osney Island last year.

Marsh Road resident Gerald Wright, 73, said: “I think it’s a great idea to protect homes. People in Marsh Road are vulnerable. The last time the road completely closed because of flooding was two or three years ago, but it can get very bad. When traffic comes through, the wash can go into people’s homes.”

The Flood Protection Grant Scheme was announced as part of the Government’s response to the Pitt review after the July 2007 floods.

To date, £3m has been given to 25 local authorities to protect 593 properties, but due to the high number of applications, the level of funding available for future grants is being reviewed.

The Vale of White Horse District Council also aspplied for money to protect homes in Grove, Abingdon and Milton Heights, but these were unsuccessful.

Council spokesman Gavin Walton said: “Given the large number of applications and the fact the total number of applications was substantially greater than the amount of money available, we’re very happy the Cumnor Road scheme was successful.”

West Oxfordshire District Council is spending £57,000 on 10 properties in Hailey Road and Eastfield Road, Witney, and £114,000 on 20 homes in Mill Green, Bampton. David Harvey, the council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “Support such as this is very welcome, because the costs associated with install-ing flood protection are often very expensive.”

Environment Agency flood risk manager Barry Russell said: “I’m pleased these applications have been successful.

“We know how stressful it can be to live with the risk of flooding and the money will be spent in communities where flooding is a very real threat.”

The councils will apply for more grants in the autumn.

tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk