Update: Flood Warning on Thames (From Witney Gazette)

Update: Flood Warning on Thames

3:25pm Wednesday 16th January 2008 in Headlines By George Hamilton

THE Environment Agency today placed the River Thames through Oxford on Flood Warning - meaning some properties could be flooded.

The stretch on heightened alert is from Eynsham to Sandford.

Earlier, the River Thame was also put on Flood Warning.

People living near the river should start moving valuables upstairs and move cars to safe locations, according to advice from the agency.

John Kelly, Oxfordshire County Council's emergency planner, said it was "inevitable" more areas in Oxfordshire would be placed at Flood Warning level this afternoon.

A number of roads across Oxfordshire have been closed because of flooding.

Shipton Road between Ascott-under-Wychwood and Shipton-under-Wychwood has been closed.

The A361 has also been shut where it meets the road leading to Ascott-under-Wychwood's railway crossing.

In Islip, Lower Street has been closed due to water on the road.

In Cropredy, Williamscot Road is out of action.

Bloxham Road between Barford St Michael and Barford St John has also been submerged.

Great Brook Road, near Chimney, to the south of Bampton has been shut.

The A417 between West Challow and Stanford in the Vale has been closed.

The B4016 Drayton Road, in Sutton Courtenay, is closed both ways.

In West Hanney, Denchworth Road is closed.

Oxfordshire County Council has also advised motorists to drive with extra care on the A4421 in Newton Purcell, north of Bicester, the A44 Woodstock Road in Yarnton and Lower Road between Eynsham and Long Hanborough.

The River Thames has flooded a small section of the towpath south of Osney Island in Oxford.

The RSPCA are also rescuing 23 sheep stranded by rising water in west Oxfordshire.

A Flood Warning is also in force on the River Ray, between Islip and Grendon Underwood in Buckinghamshire, but the Environment Agency said it might downgrade the warning to a Flood Watch.

Last night, West Oxfordshire District Council closed the B4022 Hailey Road, Witney, parts of which were under water.

It was feared that passing motorists would push waves of flood water into homes.

The road is the main route between Witney and Charlbury.

Sandbags have been distributed to householders in Witney and in villages across west Oxfordshire, including Bablockhythe - scene of some of the worst flooding last July.

The River Windrush burst its banks near Burford overnight, flooding fields and car parks but no homes have yet been affected.

Dave Ferguson, a spokesman for the Environment Agency, said: "A dry day today is good news because it gives a chance for water to flow through the system.

"There has been three-quarters of an inch of rainfall in the past 24 hours but the Thames and its tributaries can now stabilise."

Another 15mm (half-an-inch) of rain was forecast for Oxfordshire last night - taking total rainfall since last Thursday above the average for the whole of January, a Met Office spokesman said.

Heavy rain in the Cotswolds yesterday fed more water into the rivers and last night, the River Thames and River Cole west of Lechlade, on the Oxfordshire-Gloucestershire boundary, were covered by Flood Warning alerts - meaning properties are likely to flood.

Residents in the areas of Oxfordshire worst hit in last July's floods said they were terrified of a possible repeat of the damage.

But an Environment Agency spokesman said the rain was not expected to lead to a "dramatic" rise in rivers.

He added: "Nobody should be panicking. Given our current forecasts, we do not expect properties to flood in the next couple of days."

The agency advised residents to be vigilant and be ready to take precautions if a river was upgraded to a Flood Warning alert.

Today is expected to be mainly dry, but rain is forecast to return tomorrow and on Friday and Saturday.

Residents of Bullstake Close, off Botley Road in West Oxford, who saw two feet of water inside their homes in July, watched as council workmen placed sandbag defences outside.

Ann Sloper, 69, who lives in a ground-floor flat with her husband, said: "I'm terrified in case it starts again. I know the reasons for the sandbags being there to stop it, but it is nature, and you know you really cannot stop nature."

Julie Lawrence, 49, said she had packed valuables ready to evacuate her property, and added: "I just feel gutted. I'm sure we're going to flood again."

In Binsey, the Seacourt stream had burst its banks and much of Port Meadow was under water.

In Chaunterell Way, Abingdon, Pat Rutherford, 57, whose home suffered £38,000 of flood damage in July, moved back home only last Friday.

She said: "People living round here are very frightened. The Ock is high - the river is right up to the bank - and all we can do is pray."

The River Evenlode has overflowed its banks in Shipton-under-Wychwood, threatening the Old Prebendal nursing home, where residents returned only last month after flooding in July.

District councillor Hilary Biles said: "One of the things I am really angry about is the Environment Agency refusing to accept it's necessary to clear the silt from the rivers.

"They need to admit that it's necessary - and then we all need to put pressure on the Government to give them the money. This cannot keep happening."

At the Maybush pub, in Newbridge, where the Thames and Windrush meet, landlady Liz Parker said: "The waters have been rising up the garden since last Thursday, so we contacted the council and they sent sandbags straight out. We have just completely refurbished the whole pub from the summer floods, so I hope it's not as bad as last time."

In Challow, the A417 Faringdon Road was under water. Diana Smith, a forecourt assistant at car dealers Mellors of Challow, said: "The road is horrendous."

Oxfordshire County Council's emergency planning officer, John Kelly, said: "We're in watch phase at the moment - we have not deployed any resources."

Mr Kelly said: "At the moment there is no threat of flooding to property in Oxfordshire.

"However, we saw in July 2007 how situations can change quickly. We would like people to be as prepared as possible and studying our standard advice will help.

"Let us hope that water levels do not rise to the extent that people will need to deploy our advice. As things stand there is no cause for alarm."

If water levels rise to a level where flooding is likely, people should:

• Sandbag their properties
• Plug sinks and baths and put a sandbag in toilet bowls to prevent overflow
• Prepare to be evacuate and pack essentials including nappies, pet food, a mobile phone and charger and blankets and sleeping bags.