Newbridge

Sunday 8th June

The Maybush Pub garden, 5 days after the heavy rainfall of Tuesday 3rd June:














One of the Maybush car parks:














Showing the height of the River Thames flowing towards Newbridge and The Maybush:














Showing the height of the River Thames flowing past the Rose Revived:

David Cameron debates Flooding

On 7th May this year Rt Hon David Cameron MP bought Flooding in West Oxfordshire to a parliamentary debate in the House of Commons.
To read the full report from Hansard
Click Here
A few extracts from his speech:
"... there are times when a particular issue dominates a particular constituency. That is true of west Oxfordshire, my constituency and the floods of last July – not only the problems and clear-up that took place, but the fear that flooding could happen again. In fact ...... it has already happened again ...... I must say to the Minister that every time that there is hard, big rainfall in west Oxfordshire, the fear starts all over again that rivers will burst their banks, that there will be flooding, and that businesses will be hit again. There is large-scale concern about that."
"I shall never forget seeing the biblical scenes of the scale of floods: cars and houses were completely overwhelmed, and in Bablock Hythe, for example, mobile homes floated away. The council distributed 40,000 sandbags and helped enormously with the emergency response and community support. That is the first lesson that I for one learned from the floods: when it came to working with local businesses, organising volunteers and deploying the local knowledge, West Oxfordshire District Council, which is one of the smallest district councils in the country did an extremely good job ....... The fact that it is a small council actually helped, because it was in touch on the ground: it knew the networks and the volunteers and how to get the RAF to help. The council knew its area incredibly well."
"People understand that flash floods are particularly difficult to protect against, but people in my constituency want to know that everything that can be done will be done to reduce the impact of such floods in future. They are not satisfied that everything is being done. There is a general perception that everybody is talking a good game about flood defences and what we need to do for the future, but people fear that not much is actually happening."
"... On the Environment Agency, when one talks to people who have been flooded, one question keeps coming up again and again: why has so little been done to clear out the ditches, dykes and culverts, and why is there so little dredging of rivers and streams compared with the past? I am not a scientist and I am happy to listen to the arguments, but I am not convinced that they are all old wives' tales. There is truth in them, and such activities can make a difference."
"That brings me to my concern about the agency, which arises from dozens of meeting with homeowners, farmers, councillors and those living in affected communities ...... the agency gives too great a weight to animal habitat and not enough to human habitat."

"On some occasions, the Environment Agency has been responsible for clearing; on others, it has not given permission for the necessary clearance. There are too many examples of people saying, “I cannot clear out this ditch, because I've been told that I would be disturbing important habitat.” Of course habitat is important, but in the end, we must try to protect households from flooding."
"My biggest concern is the potential disadvantage at which rural communities are being placed."
"Farmers are another concern in rural areas. A number of farmers who have been flooded again and again have come to see me. They are worried about water being left on the land for such long periods, which is bad for habitat."
"I hope the Minister can give us some answers about the work of the Environment Agency, how we might focus better on flood prevention and what work needs to be carried out locally. Above all, I hope that he can examine the issue of how to help small, sparsely populated rural communities. They have suffered badly, they have shown extraordinary courage and bravery in dealing with it and they want to know that the Government is on their side."

WODC Flooding Report for Northmoor

You may be interested to read the flooding report for Northmoor published this week.

It recommends:

1) 'the Environment Agency to undertake a full floodzone modelling study, including effect of gravel abstraction, of the Windrush delta, including Newbridge Cut and Northmoor New Cut.

Prepare flood control options from the Study conclusions drawn.'

2) 'Hanson's in conjunction with the EA to prepare a satisfactory flood defence solution with regard to their proposed quarrying operations'.

Northmoor Flood Report - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Northmoor Flood Report

Northmoor Update

On Tuesday 4th June, in response to the heavy rainfall, Michael Ryan, Clerk to Northmoor Parish Council, emailed those living in the locality (slightly selective as many do not have email) and has thus far received the following flooding reports:

Brook Farm - Sewage backing up.

Northmoor Barn - Garage under water.

Park Lodge - Driveway submerged.

Park Farm - Serious flooding throughout the complex (see photos below), including raw sewage.
Rectory Cottage - Garage flooded

Hollyhock Cottage - Water to the top of the brook just outside their front door.

Park Farm Estate, Northmoor

These photos are typical of the way this week’s flooding adversely impacts the various businesses trading at Park Farm, Northmoor. They are just a few from a substantial collection built up over the last few years...

Question: "Re Yesterday's Rain - I would like to know if any property in the village suffered from floodwater as a result of yesterday's heavy rain?" Michael Ryan, Parish Clerk, Northmoor

Answer: "Michael - I was at Park Farm yesterday with Steve Good and can confirm that all the business premises were flooded. One tenant complained that he has been flooded five times in the past eighteen months and on a number of occasions, including yesterday, there has been raw sewage (see photos below) from the village floating around. Insurance claims have recently been settled amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds. I have photos of the flooding on Tuesday evening." Peter Jones, Standlake

River Windrush

... at Broad Bridges on 3rd June




























and at Gill Mill on the 4th ...

















































and on the 5th the water is still rising ...

























On 4th June, "summer pastures" at
Lower Farm in Northmoor ...

Flooding on the Stonehenge Farm site

The photos below show clearly the flooding which occurred yesterday (3.6.08) both to property which adjoins the application site as well as to the proposed extraction site/application area.