Floods: Threat recedes but vandals strike (From Witney Gazette)

Floods: Threat recedes but vandals strike

12:40pm Sunday 20th January 2008 in Headlines By Jason Collie

THE threat of flooded homes is "quickly receding" - although vandals have attacked a barrier overnight.

Oxfordshire County Council's emergency planning officer John Kelly continued to paint an optimistic picture today.

He said: "Water levels across the county are dropping significantly.

"The Thames is receding, albeit slowly. In Kelmscott, where properties were flooded a few days ago, the water has dropped significantly."

At Bablockhythe, where families were told yesterday to leave for their own safety, the road leading to the area is now passable with care And flood barriers are thought to have saved 30 homes in Oxford itself.

But Mr Kelly condemned vandals who slashed a black flood barrier at Kennington overnight.

He said it was fortunate water levels there had actually dropped, otherwise it would have led to flooding.

It came after vandalsim to flood defences in Osney, Oxford and the theft of a pump in West Oxford on Friday.

The Osney defences were quickly repaired and the pump was recovered.

Mr Kelly said: "This kind of thing makes life very difficult for responding agencies and residents and is utterly thoughtless."