Call for contact info

Just a quickie to say thanks to those who have returned their 'slips' with contact info. If you can give me an email address, I will give you rights to author this blog - and invite you to add stuff.
Stuff like scans of letters and links to useful docs/sites.

Phone numbers will NOT be published here - or go any further than a list for reference, that I will keep safe.

Anyhoo,... Let's hope that it stays nice and cold for the next few months, rather than wet!!!

Merry Christmas / Chanukah / Saturnalia - or whatever midwinter festival you celebrate!!!
And a Happy New Year.

Minutes of meeting

Minutes of meeting held on 7/12/06 at 231 Campbell Road

Attendees

Tracy – Mavis – Barry and Clare – Eylan - Martin and Emily - Jem - Liz - Debbie – Royce - Stig - Zoe, Hugh and Tristan - Vic

Thanks to Liz and John for the use of their house for meeting!

Summary of Situation

There was agreement on the 2 problems identified but it was further clarified:

1. Flooding is getting worse
2. Flooding from Brook
3. Flooding of Park
4. ‘Waste water’ pollution
5. Future Developments

Residents Issues

The following issues were collected:

Tracy

• Lowest garden – no escape for flood waters to brook
• Sewage pollution – safety of children!

Clare and Barry

• Collapsed drain in garden – very old and unknown who put it there. Being investigated as a possible solution be EA
• Been in contact with Andrew Smith MP

Vic

• The sluice gate should be removed in park
• Been here since 60s – lots of evidence about flooding

Liz

• Heard that there might be money as part of development at new Sheltered Housing development – for dealing with flooding (£23k?)

Mavis

• Land at back of houses (West Side) – common land – could be used for drain
• Reservoirs are low – could flash flood waters be directed there?

Debbie

• Good contact with City Parks (Dave Reeve)
• Problem with old drains in park – put in 1930s!

Jem

• Always been boggy land – and flooding always happened but went into playing fields. In 70s, Dads clubbed together and dug a drainage ditch.
• Capacity of culvert is insufficient

Royce

• There is a meeting of Council Environment committee on the 1^st Wednesday on the month at St Johns (?) – further details to be sought

(There is also a meeting of the Environment Scrutiny Committee on the 15^th Jan, at the Town Hall

http://www.oxford.gov.uk/council/meeting-diary.cfm/detail/10)

• Convergence of two (relatively new) storm drains at end of Campbell Road. When they were put in, there was a failure to put in sufficient capacity.

Zoe and Hugh

• Recent camera investigation by Thames Water found considerable fat deposits in the sewer. Could be causing backing up of ‘solids’
• There is an opportunity to link up with other residents groups – such as Meadow Lane. This would help our cause.

Stig

• New tiny drain put into park – after the bigger ones went it. What is it for?

Martin and Emily

• What do we know about the rising water levels overall? It is related to the water table levels?

Eylan

• Established single contacts at EA and Thames Water – future communications to be aimed at them.
• Mike Robinson - Environment Agency
• Michael Ireland – Thames Water
• Short term priority is to stop the sewage leakage!

· Has quite a lot of info – but not enough time to share it

· EA Hydraulic Report is due in January

• http://www.oxford.gov.uk/files/seealsodocs/26827/Flooding%20Review%20Group.pdf

Agreed Actions

1. To attend Council meetings to get a sense of their agenda and ‘test water’ – especially re development decisions
2. To set up a meeting in late January – invite representatives of:

i. Environment Agency - to present finding of report

ii. Thames Water

iii. City Council

iv. County Council

v. MP?

vi. Residents

• Aim of meeting to hear the invited reps and understand their view of the issue.
• Small presentation of the residents views and issues

3. To send a letter to key agencies summarising first meeting of residents. To give them points of contact with residents.
4. Not agreed – but see http://campbellroadactiongroup.blogspot.com/

Sorry about the name – but I needed something. Acronym CRAG (?)

Thanks to all who were able to attend

First meeting Agenda

Location – 231 Campbell Road (Liz and John’s)

8 – 8:30pm (30 minutes max)

Aims

To start talking about what to do about the flooding in Campbell Road

To determine whether to organise more formally – to resolve the problem

Please note – In the time available, we cannot cover everything. Make sure your own perspective is raised, especially if it is something that might not be shared with everyone! So, please be positive, patient, brief and concise.

Please bring

A short statement – of no more than 4 bullet points – summarising your biggest issues / news / information / questions / etc

Also, please bring any contact names of people spoken to in agencies like Environment Agency, Thames Water, etc. – to add to list

Summary of situation (5 mins)

Two main problems

1 Flooding is getting worse, and is happening more regularly.

2 Waste water pollution

Collect sample of key issues (10 mins)

Who do we know? (5mins)

Key players - Environment Agency / Thames Water / County Council / City Council

Other possible players - Diocese / St Greg School / MP / Councillors / Larkrise School / Friends of Florence Park / Other residents groups (Marsh Road?) / dog walkers?!?

What are our collective short term / medium term goals? (5mins)

What are we prepared to do next? (5mins)

Combined letter to Thames Water? Formal meeting? Create a blog / online journal? Petition other residents? Contact local media? Monitor water levels?

Welcome

Hi all

I thought this blog might be a handy way for all of us to keep in touch with what is happening.

Please feel free to post stuff up here - and comment on what you read.

By the way - does anyone have a scanner I can use to post document up here?

Thanks

Eylan (237)