Flooding John Backley,OCC and The Environment Agency

2015 Floods Introduction: The role of the Vale council and other agencies What parishes can do and how the Vale can help – community resilience Major schemes – S Hinksey and Oxford and Abingdon.

3 The role of the Vale council and other agencies Vale acts on behalf of OCC to investigate flooding, give consent to flood structures and enforce riparian responsibility, help in emergencies. Carries out and contributes to flood schemes Vale engineer gives expert advice on land drainage, but responsibilities could be riparian/EA/OCC/TW OCC lead a co-ordinated approach under a flood strategy with EA, TW, other DCs and provide advice on land drainage on major developments – see if you live in an area likely to flood, what to do in a flood, historical list of flood schemes and list of areas investigated after major flood event of

4 The role of the parishes If you live or you own property that is next to watercourse that flows through your property you are a 'riparian landowner' and you have responsibility to pass the water downstream unimpeded Farmers, major land owners and some individuals who are riparian landowners do this themselves. Other elderly or less able residents may struggle… COMMUNITY RESILIENCE Parishes can help by forming community flood groups –- to identify flood areas, help keep watercourses clear, help in emergencies with flood defences, producing emergency/flood plans, making sure people are safe. OCC officers and Vale council can attend meetings, provide advice. Grant ££ available! Produce an emergency plan emergency-plans

5 Community Flood Groups After the July 2007 floods the Vale council promoted the formation of community flood groups - 25 groups registered with the council. Between 2009 and 2013 the council provided £115,000 in grants to flood groups to assist with the purchase of equipment and to carry out small flood alleviation projects 2012/13 -St Helens Mill Abingdon, Longcot, Appleton, Ock Valley, Hanneys, Grove Green and Sunningwell flood groups received a total of £6,600. This covered purchase of equipment, inflatable sandbags, newsletter and insurance costs, re-instating and clearance of land drainage ditches and flow improvements in watercourse. 2013/14 - Carswell Marsh, Sunningwell, Charney Bassett, Hanneys received a total of £3,400. This covered a new trash screen, ditch clearance and professional flood survey report

Contacts Tel Tel

Oxford FAS - Abingdon proposals and South Hinksey works Richard Harding Project Executive Environment Agency 7

Oxford FAS: Oxford Strategy Oxford Strategy (StAR) completed in Staged approach to flood risk management with approval given for stage 1 plus 100 years maintenance: –Stage 1: Years 0 - 9: Enhanced maintenance plus short term measures (now completed including localised desilting, new culvert works and demountable defences) –Stage 2: Years 30 – 70: Western channel –Stage 3: Years 70 – 90: Upstream flood storage 8

Oxford FAS: Project Objectives Reduce flood damages to at least 1000 homes and businesses currently at risk in Oxford Reduce flood impacts on transport infrastructure and utilities in Oxford, particularly to Botley and Abingdon Roads, the railway line and the sewerage system; Safeguard Oxford's reputation as a thriving centre of commerce that is open for business Create and maintain new recreational amenities, wildlife habitat and naturalised watercourses accessible from the centre of Oxford 9

Oxford FAS: Assurance and approvals route 10

Oxford FAS: Indicative Timeline May 2015 – September 2015 Site Investigations & Survey Options development & public consultations November – December 2015 Shortlist and preferred option agreed December 2016 Outline Business Case approval December 2016 – Spring 2018 Detailed design & planning applications –Spring 2018 Full Business Case approval and construction begins –Spring 2021 – Scheme opens

Oxford FAS: Indicative Area 12

Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme

Oxford FAS: Network Rail 14

Abingdon