12/6/2008

 

Dear Harry

 

We too were flooded by the main R.Ock, the tributary that flows in at Abingdon, last 17th-18th July, 2007.  Depth in house 14 inches.  Insurance: none. 

 

As it happened City Barge was host to 35 Venetian oarsmen and women, who came down from Lechlade earlier in the week encountering the worst of it between Goring and Henley, picking up a number of EA red cards en route.  When they arrived at the Rally

it was under water.  They still took the Mayor of Henley afloat.  They still performed their races in their racing gondolas though there was no one on the bank. 

 

On Sunday they skipped the section from Henley to Teddington, re-launched there, and continued to the Barrier.

 

They came back in April, 2008, and completed the Henley to Teddington section.

 

Meanwhile back on the Ock the Nortons were flooded again 3rd/4th June, 2008.  Depth in house .25 inch.  Our EA contact had changed his telephone number.  The Floodline was permanently engaged.  Insurance none again.

 

We have experienced an attitude of “How can we get out of this?” from the EA.

 

The thing with the R.Ock and Crispy Brook is that their reaction-time is quick to Abingdon, about one day.  This compares with about 3 days to Abingdon from the Cherwell, Windrush, and Ray via the Thames.  Therefore the first step the EA ought to take – for the benefit of everyone down stream is to empty the Ock and Crispy Brook.  In fact they preside over dozens of blockages all the way to Abingdon which hold back the initial surge.

 

In Oxford there are seven streams under the Botley Road.  These also have serious blockages.  They threaten the City itself but the authorities talk of huge plans for the future - £100M, and refuse to deal with the blockages that could be removed with some manual effort and a comparatively modest budget.

 

Yours

Richard