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