Eleventh-hour negotiations seem to have saved Kidlington's 250,000 flood defence scheme, writes Reg Little.

The proposed flood barrier to protect homes in the village was put in jeopardy when a handful of householders refused to allow the barrier to cross their gardens.

After frantic negotiations only one family was still resisting the plan by the weekend.

But the last householder and his elderly mother finally agreed to allow the barrier to be built after a final plea from Cherwell District councillor Maurice Billington.

Mr Billington warned of the furious reaction of neighbours in Cherwell Avenue and Queen's Avenue if the scheme had to be put back.

Many residents had seen their homes devastated in the 1988 floods and have had to sandbag their homes in recent days as the River Cherwell threatened to again break its banks.

Mr Billington, who lives in nearby Evans Lane, said: "I happen to have known the family for 46 years. They were worried about their garden becoming a builders' yard. "Feelings in Kidlington have been running very high and I had to tell them about the resentment that was building up. Everyone else had agreed and it was getting tense.

The deadline was fast approaching and now their agreement has been faxed to the Environment Agency. There is now nothing left to block the progress of the flood defence scheme."

The Oxford Mail highlighted on Friday the threat facing the flood defence scheme because a handful of householders who, despite offers of compensation, did not want the 2ft-barrier on their land.

The Environment Agency had warned that if it was forced to seek a compulsory purchase order the flood defences would be seriously delayed.

The clerk of Gosford and Watereaton Parish Council, Carl Smith, who has been closely involved in the negotiations, said: "One of the big problems was that each householder negotiated separately, so no-one knew whether their neighbours were receiving 1,000 or 3,000. Unfortunately, that breeds problems. But it really is in everyone's interest to get this work done.

Hopefully, work can begin early in the New Year."

The barrier will consist of a low brick wall, earth embankments and circular valves fitted to drainage pipes.