Flooding: Now comes the bad smell (From Witney Gazette)

Flooding: Now comes the bad smell

STAGNANT water and decaying algae left behind by flood waters are making parts of Oxfordshire smell.

As the countryside, parts of which were under water for days following the torrential downpours two weeks ago, begins to dry out, residents have noticed an unpleasant whiff in the air.

Colin Cook, Oxford city ward councillor for Osney, said: "I think it's something that we have just got to accept.

"What's happened is the water has come over the fields, which have lots of nitrate and potash on them, and there's been an algae bloom and it's grown with the sun.

"When the water went, green slime was left - and it is the decay of that which is causing the smell."

He said some people had described the stench as similar to manure, but he thought it more reminiscent of the sea - and, in particular, seaweed drying out.

But Andy Mundin, of Catherine Street, East Oxford, said it was far more unpleasant than that.

He said: "I have had my windows open driving along Abingdon Road and Botley Road and had to roll them back up again because it is so disgusting.

"It is like living in Venice in the height of summer when the whole city starts to stink. All of the drains smell a lot worse than usual too.

"I cannot understand why it smells so bad. It is truly foul."

Oatlands Recreation Ground, off Botley Road, and Botley Park are among the worst areas.

Mr Cook said he believed it would be days rather than weeks before the smell subsided and added that once the fields were completely dry they would be mowed which should help alleviate the problem.