Floods: River Thames level rises (From Witney Gazette)

Floods: River Thames level rises

6:47pm Friday 18th January 2008 in Headlines

WATER levels on the River Thames are continuing to rise slowly but steadily in Oxfordshire this evening.

But a spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council said it was not envisaged the rise, which had been predicted, would lead to large-scale flooding.

Just outside the county, the flood alert level on the stretch of the River Thames from Cirencester to Lechlade was downgraded tonight from a flood warning to the lowest level of alert, a flood watch.

Levels on smaller Oxfordshire rivers are falling.

A small number of homes in Kelmscott flooded yesterday. The spokesman said agencies were keeping a close eye on a number of properties in Henley that are at risk of flooding in the coming hours.

The Vale of White Horse District Council is erecting a flood barrier at Kennington to protect the area.

'The message is more optimistic. However some more rain is predicted so we remain cautious, vigilant and ready to respond'

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Dave Etheridge

The spokesman said this barrier had been used on previous occasions and was being deployed as a precautionary measure.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Dave Etheridge said: "The message is more optimistic. We are grateful for the low rainfall levels. However some more rain is predicted so we remain cautious, vigilant and ready to respond."

Oxfordshire County Council's emergency planning officer, John Kelly, added: "Agencies are continuing to work very closely together and I am grateful for their efforts.

"We'd all like to praise residents across the county for the way they have worked with us in the past few days."

There will be a stock of sand and sandbags available at the following locations:

• PC World - Botley Road, Oxford
• Redbridge park-and-ride - Abingdon Road, Oxford
• Wallingford - Old Waitrose car park
• Henley - Waitrose car park (due tomorrow)
• West Oxfordshire - in flood-affected towns and villages
• Abingdon - Homebase car park.

The county council spokesman said: "Residents that were affected by the flooding during the summer are advised to take proactive measures including lifting furniture from the ground and sandbagging external openings such as front and rear doors.

"If you require any personal sandbags for your property which cannot be collected at the above sites then the first point of contact should be your district council."