. + 4 News oxfordtimes.co.uk/news Friday, June 6, 2008 One month’s rain falls in space of single day in some parts of Oxfordshire, causing

Ominous echo of last By OUR REPORTERS [email protected]

OXFORDSHIRE has been warned it faces another wet summer, but officials have promised they are now better prepared. The county has suffered major flooding three times in the past 12 months, including the deluge on Tuesday that saw schools shut, homes flooded and roads closed. The weather also brought back painful memories to the thousands of homeowners hit by last July’s floods, and prompted questions about whether the county could handle a repeat. The Met Office told The Oxford Times this week that there was unlikely to be a prolonged period of dry weather during the summer and warned that spells of heavy rain and flash floods were likely instead. Met Office forecaster John Hammond said: “We are going to get heavy spells of rain and I understand people are apprehensive.” But he stressed a repeat of last July’s severe floods was unlikely. Jill Moss, who lives in West Street, off Botley Road, Oxford, said she was “not confident” that the authorities would be able to save Osney Island — which was ■ DEEP TROUBLE: Above: A car ploughs through flood water on Elsfield Road, off the A40 near Oxford. Below: A robin takes shelter from the rain on the River flooded badly last July — if it Thames towpath at Osney Island. Bottom: A car makes its way through flood water in Hailey Road, Witney was badly hit again. Bridge Street flood victim manager for the Environment than 120 emergency calls on She said: “It was so stressful Tom Mardle, 25, said: “Every Agency, assured people the Tuesday as at least 12 roads last year. It was scary. I’m a time it rains they have to pump authorities were in a better were closed. widow and I had to move all the drains. It’s ridiculous. position than last summer, At Peers School in Oxford, my furniture by myself.” They are not doing anything although he said he understood hundreds of pupils were sent proactive. It’s all reactive.” their concerns. home after teachers decided it Geoff Bell, area flood risk He said: “Everybody has was unsafe. learnt lessons, but it’s a Headteacher Ed McConnell mammoth task. To say how said: “We had hundreds of much better off we are is soaking wet children with still difficult. There’s no quick or four hours of school to go.” cheap solution to reducing the Pupils at Witney Commu- risk of flooding. We are nity Primary School were also making sure our warnings are sent home. better and people are better In Wheatley, two feet of prepared.” water streamed down High He added: “You can’t Street, flooding a number of predict exactly when and homes in Crown Square. where rain will fall and, A prolonged period of Father-of-two Christian unfortunately, floodplains Guthier’s home was six inches flood — that’s the natural dry weather is unlikely under water and he said: “It system. this summer and was coming in everywhere — “However much main- through the doors, windows tenance we do, unless the spells of heavy rain and pipes. It was like having capacity of the drainage an inside fountain.” system is massively and flash floods are In Wendlebury, near increased it is always going likely instead Bicester, some homeowners to be overwhelmed by are only just returning after floods like this.” last summer’s floods. But Oxford City Council said Oxfordshire County Coun- sandbags were needed as “good progress” had been cil said it had spent £588,000 water in the village reached made since last July. on flood protection since last two feet in places. Executive director Tim summer. The council said it A row of homes in Thame Sadler said a sandbag store had worked on 20 key high- Road, Tiddington, and houses had been set up at the way drainage schemes, and in Kidlington and Kennington Environment Agency’s had another 15 planned. also had rain water pumped Osney depot and the council Steve Howell, head of out by fire crews. had bought flood barriers transport, said: “It will never The water was also two- feet for East Street and West be possible to eliminate the event of further flooding, deep in Barton Village Road, The next step to visual freedom... Street. problems altogether, but we the service would act “as Barton, in Oxford. An emergency vehicle are in a better position across proactively as possible, as Several roads in Oxford- 01865 558858 stocked with more than the county now than in early as possible”. shire were still closed the next Vale of White Horse Dis- The Manor Hospital, Oxford 1,000 anti-flood water bags previous times.” afternoon. was also now based at the Oxfordshire Fire Service’s trict Council leader Tony de Roads that remained shut The Oxford Eye Hospital council’s City Works depot. assistant chief fire officer Vere insisted his council was www.grangeeyeconsultants.com Dave Etheridge said that in also better prepared. Fire crews dealt with more

Friday, June 6, 2008 oxfordtimes.co.uk/news Hews 5 flash flooding and creating scenes reminiscent of last summer’s devastating floods July, as rains return

■ WET WEATHER: Clockwise from top left: Flooding in Hailey Road, Witney; Oxford shoppers take shelter during Tuesday’s downpour; East Hanney was flooded in parts; Wheatley was also hit; Abingdon homes were affected; Josie Hamill outside her home in Barton; Wendlebury, near Bicester, suffered; traffic in Botley Road, Oxford, on Tuesday

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Friday, June 6, 2008 oxfordtimes.co.uk/news Hews 5