Memorandum submitted by Melvyn Cole (FL
98)
FLOODING IN
WEST OXFORDSHIRE
ON 20 JULY
2007
The village of Clanfield was badly flooded on
20 July 2007. A survey of all properties in the village, of approximately
350 properties showed 58 homes flooded with a further 20 outbuildings
and gardens flooded.
The main causes of the flooding were:
— brooks flowing through and around
the village overflowing
— rainwater run off fields flowing
directly into properties over blocked drains.
Given the severity of the weather some flooding
would be expected in the village however the scale of this flooding
was far more severe than should have been.
The immediate issues raised are as follows:
— traffic (four wheel drives and similar
vehicles) continued to drive through the village even when the
road was closed. One vehicle was stoned when refusing to slow
down. The wash created by such vehicles caused serious damage
to several properties along side the road.
Agencies must close roads earlier.
— there was a lack of response from
all agencies on the Friday afternoon, specifically Oxfordshire
Highways and Thames Valley Police regarding road closures.
Agencies must be coordinated including across
county boundaries.
— flood warnings were issued 24 hours
after the floods to some residents who were signed up to the Environment
Agency's "early" warning system. The telemetry system
installed in the village two years ago seems to have failed miserably.
The Environment Agency must sort out its procedures
and/or competencies.
The longer term issues which need to be addressed
are well understood and have been on going for a number of years
and must now be taken forward as a matter of urgency.
These are:
— ditches and brooks must be properly
cleaned. If landowners are responsible they should be charged
for cleaning undertaken if they are unwilling or unable to do
it themselves
— the Environment Agency must not be
allowed to prevent cleaning of essential ditches on the grounds
of wild life preservation as was the case with one of the two
key brooks contributing to the Clanfield flooding
— the run of surface water from Brize
Norton has caused problems in the past, and with the current flooding
and will do so in the future particularly with the expansion of
the base increasing the hard standing area significantly. The
reassurances provided particularly with the lack of commitment
to cleaning the brooks down to the Thames are not at all convincing.
This area of the expansion must be reviewed before the next problem
arises.
Melvyn Cole
September 2007
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