Floods: Defences 'saved city homes' (From Witney Gazette)

Floods: Defences 'saved city homes'

10:53am Sunday 20th January 2008 in Witney By Chris Kearney

More than 30 homes in Oxford have been saved from flooding, according to the county council's emergency planner.

John Kelly has said measures taken earlier in the week in the Botley and Osney Island areas of the city have undoubtedly saved homes.

He said: "Sand bagging in the Bullstake Close area and the barricade erected in West Street have certainly prevented flooding to homes.

"They were pre-emptive measure that we took to get ahead of the situation and they have paid off."

He added that water levels around the Botley area now appeared to be dropping, following a peak yesterday afternoon.

Mr Kelly also confirmed that waters in the Bablock Hythe area, near Witney, had started to recede, despite fears the area would be cut off until Monday by the high levels.

He said: "The waters there are reducing and access to the site is no longer a concern for us."