May I canvass your readers of a potential outfall from Oxford’s Western Conveyance plan that has not surfaced in the press coverage.
The projected increase in volume flow at Sandford Lock will impact on Abingdon’s flood defences in several ways. While I applaud the funding for household defences, I fear Abingdon’s flood plain has received little attention.
The Oxford floods
It is essential that floodplains work effectively and this should include efficient drainage after the peak flow has passed. Higher river levels are expected to utilise the floodplain defence but ceasing the dredging of the Thames at Abingdon has had a cumulative impact, evident now with silting up, ersion of the river bank and a reduced capacity to deal with river water flow..
Consequently there has been an increased use of the floodplain at Abingdon. Owners of land adjoining the river have ‘riparian’ responsibilities to maintain existing drainage culverts as well as the riverbank.
It would appear that the Environment Agency has been negligent in overseeing and ensuring that these responsibilities have been performed by the landowners, who are generally the local town and district councils. The outcome of this mismanagement has been to allow drainage arrangements for the floodplain to fall into dilapidation and for flood waters to linger.
Alec J Inns
Boxhill Road
Abingdon
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