Elderly and vulnerable residents have joined the row over what they see as a lack of action over the rising risk of flooding in Witney.

Kay Jerred, of retirement housing complex Riverside Gardens, is a member of the 100-strong Witney Flood Mitigation group, and represents nearly 50 residents, many with mobility and health issues.

She said: “I know that there are other similar communities in Witney that need their voices heard. They too have suffered stress and anxiety as they watch heavy rainfall and the river level rise.”

Thirteen residents from Riverside Gardens, where the average age is over 80, were forced to flee their homes in Christmas 2020 - four properties were flooded and others had water rushing into air-bricks.

One elderly resident is still in temporary accommodation six months later.

Chair of the Residents Association Ken Smith and wife Suzanne said: “Many are now terrified and every time there’s a flood alert or storms are forecast they become extremely anxious that they will be flooded again. Until action is taken, this threat hangs over us."

Resident Vera Jordan said the sudden nature of the flood was “a tremendous shock”.

“It became even more real when I had to wade through water to evacuate my home overnight. I didn’t sleep much. Many problems remain unresolved and action needs to be taken to stop this constant fear."

Another couple, who did not want to be named, said: “The flood was such a shock! Suddenly, water was over the terrace and we hurriedly put some plastic sheeting and an old gate outside our bedroom door. We couldn’t find any sandbags and there was no response to phone calls.

“Water came up the steps at the back and into our ground floor flat, only to be met by water coming in the front door of the main House. We then had a flood warning from the EA!"

Resident Margaret King added: “If I hadn’t been out walking and able to alert people, cars along the bank would have definitely been in the river. It was already dark and people had settled in for the night.”

And another, who did not want to be named but has health issues, said: “In 2007 water enveloped properties within three-quarters of an hour! With water already at the top of my thighs, I struggled to my neighbour who was very unwell.

“This Christmas, alerted by a neighbour, I saw water pouring into my next door neighbour’s flat; I was so worried for them. Then came the frustration and anger: ‘Here we go again’ I felt complete despair.

“Can you imagine an evacuation at night in the cold and dark, wading through water with little or no help, with all Christmas plans in disarray and going to temporary accommodation in the middle of a lockdown?”

Witney MP Robert Courts visited the residents in February and they said they are contacting him again this week.

Last week we reported how flood victims turned up at a meeting wearing wellies to challenge the council over its alleged lack of action.

West Oxfordshire district council responded that it had limited powers and ability to prevent flooding and the main responsibility lies with the county council and the Environment Agency.

Residents called for a revisiting of the option of altering the Bridge Street bridge to allow more water through during floods.

They also wanted regular de-silting of the river.

However, this week an Environment Agency spokesman said: “A previous review of de-silting the River Windrush in Witney concluded it was not an effective method of reducing flood-risk.”

But he added: “Landowners next to rivers are responsible for clearing silt and blockages from the stretch of watercourse they own.”

He said that the EA has permissive powers to enforce this.

Of the Christmas flooding, he added: “Our teams were out protecting communities across Oxfordshire, clearing debris from rivers to reduce flood-risk – work that is done throughout the year.”

Meanwhile a spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council said it was the volume of rain that caused the flooding and because of climate change things were only going to get worse.