MP Ed Vaizey has called for an action plan to avoid a
repeat of the devastation caused by widespread flooding in
Abingdon, Wantage and surrounding villages close to the
river Ock and Letcombe Brook.
Mr Vaizey the MP for Wantage met with key officials from
the Environment Agency and told them he wanted to see more
monitoring of rivers and brooks in order to better predict
where future floods will happen and a more comprehensive
drainage systems for future developments. Present drainage
systems said Mr Vaizey were "wholly inadequate" and not
built with any risk of severe flooding in mind.
He said: " I want to see all new schemes proposed on
flood plains, or against Environment Agency advice, called
in by central government. I also support a call by the Vale
of White Horse District Council for grants to be considered
for homeowners who wish to alter their properties to protect
them from flooding."
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Farmers could be asked to play a more active role in
flood prevention. Mr Vaizey said he would like a scheme to
be considered to enlist local farmers in the important work
of clearing ditches and brooks.
"The Government should consider urgently a scheme to
allow farmers, who already get grants for environmental
work, to apply for grants to clear ditches and brooks in
villages."
He said it was clear that the Environment Agency was
"stretched to the limit" after it had its maintenance grant
cut last year. In the future resources would be concentrated
in urban areas like Oxford, Witney and Abingdon. Villages,
warned Mr Vaizey, might end up getting less protection.
And floods have thrown up another major concern -
building on flood plains. Increased developments at Grove,
Didcot and Abingdon feature high on the list of anxieties
voiced by residents. One of the major fears of objectors to
the proposed large scale housing developed planned for the
old airfield at Grove is flooding.
Mr Vaizey said: "Despite assurances from the Environment
Agency, I still believe the huge developments being planned
in Grove, Didcot and east of Swindon could increase the risk
of flooding. If these developments are imposed I hope the
Government will call them in. I will be waiting to see the
Flood Risk Assessments for each area. "
Posted by: Ewan Larcombe, Datchet, Berks on
9:46pm today
The Environment Agency built a flood alleviation scheme
here recently. Costing £110m the Jubilee River was of
substandard design and construction, and when used for
the first time it dumped floodwater onto the defenceless
villages downstream. It was the subject of a £2.75m
out-of-court settlement and is still awaiting repair and
unable to carry its design capacity. Furthermore the
Thames in this area has not been dredged for flood
defence purposes since 1995. My point is that the
Environment Agency have abandoned watercourse
maintenance (i.e. dredging) in favour of 'flood risk
management' a process that can be conducted from a
keyboard in a safe, warm, dry office
The Environment Agency built a flood alleviation scheme
here recently. Costing £110m the Jubilee River was of
substandard design and construction, and when used for
the first time it dumped floodwater onto the defenceless
villages downstream. It was the subject of a £2.75m
out-of-court settlement and is still awaiting repair and
unable to carry its design capacity. Furthermore the
Thames in this area has not been dredged for flood
defence purposes since 1995. My point is that the
Environment Agency have abandoned watercourse
maintenance (i.e. dredging) in favour of 'flood risk
management' a process that can be conducted from a
keyboard in a safe, warm, dry office
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