Council Tax booklet!

In your council tax envelope there is a booklet from the City Council - the one with a fruit cake on the front.
Turn to page 12. Yes... It is our road during a flood - on the page about the Environment Agency!
Hey ho - actually - I don't mind - as the EA has been quite good at helping us.
Pretty funny though!
Eylan

Dates please!

I have lost some details - but there have been more flooding incidents than these two big ones:

28 June 2005

11 Oct 2006


Does anyone have record of the smaller ones???

Thanks

Eylan

Thames Water questionnaire

We have all had a letter and questionnaire from Thames Water.

Just a few thoughts about it:

It is great that they are taking us seriously - and we should all fill it in.
However, it is up to them to tell us the causes of the problem - we should be telling them what is happening - where the flooding is happening - worsening, etc.
As Hugh said - We should be descriptive and they should be prescriptive.
They should diagnose the problem - and prescribe a solution - especially regarding the foul water.

The map they supplied up with is useful - and I will be marking on the flooding as it impacts me - especially the flow of sewage water through into my garden whenever there is a thunderstorm!

I would suggest that we all do this - so that they can see where the 'foul water' is coming from and going to.

As for the problems with the brook and the park - Thames Water will not have much to do with that - so comments regarding these other issues may fall on deaf ears!

As for the dates of the floods - see the next post for details.

Eylan

Hugh's report from meeting on 6th

The following report is from Hugh - please read before filling in the questionnaire from Thames Water!

On Tuesday 6^th March I met with a team of people on our road who had been pulled together by Angel Council Cristofoli, our area co-ordinator at Oxford City. The group included Thames Water (3 people), two councillors, people from Highways, Parks and Drainage. We talked about where the flooding had occurred and when – they showed me a map (I think from the hydrological survey that has still to be made public) that indicated the areas of flood risk. Interestingly our road sticks out into the flood like a pier! Also the map showed the Lark Rise playing fields and the meadow behind the old peoples’ home as flooded. I pointed out that both of these points were errors.

Then we walked through the park, stopping along the way to look at the areas of concern. Obviously the park brook’s intersection with Boundary Brook is a key point. As soon as Boundary gets full, there is no way the park brook can empty into it, so it comes our way! What they can do about it, I don’t know, but they are now very aware of that problem.

Further up Boundary Brook we saw a few other pinch points – points that have actually assisted us in recent floods. For example, when Cowley and Marsh Road flooded last year – that was all water that could have ended up with us.

And this was a point that we all took on board. If the problem at Marsh Road is made better, without reference to the bigger picture, then we will get more flooding. And likewise, if we improve things for ourselves here, then perhaps Meadow Lane will suffer. It was agreed that it would be very useful for everyone to look at a large map of the area and indicate where the problems are. Piecemeal solutions will not work.

Walking back – all the way to the Iffley Road, engineers pointed out that Larkrise playing fields can’t flood as they are so much higher than the brook. I pointed out that St Greg’s playing fields used to flood – people were unsure about how effective the tanks they claim to have put in will be at mimicking natural flooding. Also – the brook near the end of our road is less sloping than further down – I was shown the build up of gravel and silt near the bridge – while a little further down towards Iffley Road there is no silt. This is because the water is moving faster. Is this important?

Someone is going to see if the tunnel under the Iffley Road really is a constraint on flow – and whether that might be exacerbating the situation.

All in all it was a very valuable time – if for nothing other than bringing so many of the different parties who are responsible together. I think that gentle pressure will go a long way in reminding all of them that we are still here and have no plans to go away!

The next step? We get to have a look at the hydrological plan – hopefully soon – and then perhaps we can see an end to the periodic stress and misery of flooding.

Action

Due to some email screw up - it turns out that Angela at the council has come through- but I only just found out.

She has got all the agencies involved to come to our road to talk over the problem next week - but I have only just found out. Thames Water, the Environment Agency, and councillors all taking us seriously.

Angela said the reason that they were taking us seriously and wanting to help was partly because we were so organised and were prepared to see the bigger picture. So, well done us! Compliments aside - let's hope this leads to action!

I am very quickly pulling together the issues/ideas we want them to consider.

If there are any 'schemes' - such as a new drain leading from the park and the east side gardens to the flood plain behind the new older-persons housing to the west - or to widen the brook - or to put new drains in the park - please let me know so I can raise them.

Pop into see me - or email to eylan2001@yahoo.co.uk as soon as you can

Once again - sorry for the rush

Eylan 237