PART of Britain’s biggest ever flood-response exercise was staged in Oxford as officials assured residents they were better prepared than in 2007.

Environment Agency and Floods minister Richard Benyon said many lessons had been learned since torrential rain on July 20 that year caused widespread flooding in Oxfordshire.

Last month, updated maps published by the Environment Agency indicated an extra 360 Witney homes were considered at risk of flooding.

Saturday’s summit at the King’s Centre in Osney Mead and demonstrations on the River Thames at nearby Osney Lock marked the conclusion of the week-long Exercise Watermark, which tested the country’s ability to deal with flooding, collapsing reservoirs and tidal surges.

Community groups from the Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum attended the event, which saw Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service demonstrate its equipment and rescue skills in the fast-flowing river at the base of a weir.

Watch manager Gary Crone said: “Since 2007 we have improved the training we’ve received and the equipment we have got. The conditions you can see today are the sort we faced when we had the floods in 2007.

“On the Friday when it hit, the guys were operating in similar conditions in the high street of a village in the west of the county as they rescued people from an elderly people’s home.”

Floods Minister Richard Benyon said: “Not only did the Government of the day produce the (Sir Michael) Pitt report (into the 2007 floods), every local authority did its assessment and we’re learning from all of this.

“Part of the reason for today’s event is to test these responses out and see what communities are doing for themselves to roll out the recommendations.

“We’re in a better place (since 2007), but flooding will happen again and we can’t get away from that. But we can be better prepared, better equipped and better co-ordinated with emergency services and local government, and that’s what today is about.”

About 900 homes in the county were damaged by the 2007 deluge.

Barry Russell, of the Environment Agency, said: “That year was a big experience for all of us.

“There were some very good practices and some good working together between professional partners, but with every event you do a review to see what can be done better.”

He added: “Certainly in Oxford there are a lot more defences that have been put in place since 2007.

“There’s a long-term strategy and we’re are also doing a programme of short-term measures, of which we are into phase two.

“The first phase involved digging culverts at Redbridge to improve the watercourse and flow, and we’re currently doing walk at Willow Walk (between Osney Mead and North Hinksey) with culverts to ease the flow of water from north to south.

“There are also the demountable flood defences, for Osney Island, and for Vicarage Lane, off the Abingdon Road.

“We’re much better prepared. We have had some good experiences and have been able to put additional measures in place since 2007.”

  • For more information about flood prevention and protection, see the Environment Agency website.