Dear members and supporters, welcome to our latest update on activities and progress to date as we continue to work on everyone’s behalf. 

Witney still remains at real risk of flooding. 

For more information, contact us at: witneyfloodgroup@gmail.com or visit bit.ly/witneyfloodmitigation

Make a donation on GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/dc6841a0

Updates on our Activities

• • Charity Status – WFG is now a registered charity and was recently setup with four trustees, all whom are founders of the original group formed 3 years ago. We intend to use this to gain more traction with the community and attract funding for our work, which is not for profit. 

  • Council Engagement – Our relationship has improved significantly with both the District and County councils. They have supported us along a number of fronts and take us seriously as a partner. We meet regularly as part of the Risk Management Agencies - Joint Agencies working group to reduce the risk of flooding in Witney.

  • Environment Agency – We have formed a good working relationship with the EA and meet their team regularly to check on progress. This includes updating the EA Flood Model, critical to planning applications and supporting a long term Flood Alleviation Scheme business case for Witney. 

  • River Sensors Project – Following the creation of a business case for a better understanding of how the river behaves in central Witney, OCC and WODC have funded our Sensors Project which will place several sensors alongside the river in the centre of Witney to allow us to study how the river behaves during flood events and clearly identify structures that impede good flow to learn more how to reduce flooding. This will soon be publicly accessible to anyone interested. 

  • Maintenance and Riparian Owners – The EA, supported by us, OCC and WODC have written a formal letter to over 50 riparian owners to remind them of their legal responsibilities to keep watercourses clear of any obstructions in the interests of drainage.

  • Flood Warden Scheme – We have been working with OCC to establish a pilot Flood Warden Scheme for Witney. This is a critical part of the process of helping communities better prepare and have eyes on the ground locally to identify and mitigate any obstructions that impede the flow of the river. There are now 6 registered volunteer flood wardens and we are getting ourselves organised.

  • Community Emergency Plans – A critical component of joined up coordination and action during flood events, we have created a simple Community Flood Plan template that any area, street or community at risk can complete will include emergency temporary accommodation so everyone has a plan when needed. We are also identifying and arranging for places of refuge where people can go temporarily. Contact us if you want a copy of the blank template to create your own plan.

  • Waterways Day – We recently presented our annual update to notify all our partners and the local community of our progress to date. For more information contact us and we will send you a copy of our presentation, you can also visit: https://westoxon.gov.uk/WaterwaysDay

Our Demands Are Unchanged

• Proper Maintenance of the river and ordinary watercourses – silt, fallen trees, obstructions

• Witney Bridge may have to be Redesigned or Rebuilt – it acts as a dam during flooding conditions

• Other Land Adjustments, such as the footpath across Langel Common, may be acting as a dam

• River Level Gauges to be placed at key locations to properly assess trends, driven by facts. We are fitting some soon!

• An Attenuation Scheme for Witney – Between Worsham and Crawley, and for Hailey Road drain

• Joined Up thinking and Teamwork – working together in unison will get us far closer to solutions

Help Needed

• Feedback - Keep it coming so we can continue to improve and remember to share this update

• Volunteers! - We are seeking expertise in communications and marketing; fund raising, hydrology expertise, and annual auditing of our charity accounts

• OCC Oxfordshire Flood Toolkit - https://www.oxfordshirefloodtoolkit.com/

• WODC Flooding Advice - https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/environment/flooding/ 

• Landowner Responsibilities - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/owning-a-watercourse 

• Thames Valley Flood Scheme - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thames-valley-flood-scheme/thames-valley-flood-scheme

• Thames Valley Flood Scheme - to register for further information - https://forms.office.com/r/FsG4CLF8Sg or email: TVFS@environment-agency.gov.uk

• OCC Flood Risk Management Strategy - https://www2.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/sites/default/files/folders/documents/environmentandplanning/flooding/OxfordshireFloodRiskManagementStrategy.pdf

• 2007 Flood Report - https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/media/rjuj1zwz/witney-july-2007-floods-report.pdf

• 2015 Flood Risk Assessment - https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/media/ermnvthv/north-witney_level-2-sfra_march-2015.pdf

• DEFRA Announcement on Support for Individual homes and local authorities - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-grants-to-help-protect-properties-from-flooding

Stay in touch and let us know your views and perspectives:

Email: witneyfloodgroup@gmail.com

Web: bit.ly/witneyfloodmitigation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/witneyfloods

NextDoor: https://nextdoor.co.uk/g/uf8yw7zqg/

Charity Number 1204457