Environment Agency Taking Comments on Oxford Flood Remediation Plan
The Environment Agency is working with several local partners to reduce flood risks to all homes and businesses in Oxford and to major transport routes into the city.
The Environment Agency (England) is asking communities to have their say on benefits and features to be included in a £120 million project to reduce flood risk to all homes and businesses in Oxford. Comments are being accepted from June 22 to July 20 so the public will have input about the design features, ranging from the seven bridges along the route to options for benches and bike racks. The plan is a major project that involves lowering parts of Oxford's floodplain to increase its capacity for floodwater and widening and deepening some of the rivers and streams that run through it.
"The Oxford flood alleviation scheme will be a major feat of engineering and is one of the biggest projects we are working on across the country," said Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the Environment Agency. "I am very proud of our partnership approach, which is so important to building the scheme and keeping this iconic city moving during times of flood, for businesses, commuters, and communities of Oxford."
"This is a really important issue for people in Oxford and beyond. The plans for the flood alleviation scheme are now very advanced and we want to hear what our residents think," said Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for environment. "As the lead local flood authority, Oxfordshire County Council strongly supports the Oxford flood alleviation scheme, and we encourage local communities, residents, and businesses to take this opportunity to get involved in the consultation."
Drop-in events took place in Oxford in May, and the project team will be available at three locations June 30, July 6, and July 11 to help members of the public who don't have Internet access complete the online consultation at libraries. The Environment Agency is working with several local partners: Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, Thames Water, the Oxford Flood Alliance, Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, and the University of Oxford, on this plan to reduce flood risks to all homes and businesses in Oxford and to major transport routes into the city.