THE sight of subsiding flood water was a relief yesterday to residents in the Abingdon Road area who had been advised to leave the night before.

The road was strangely quiet yesterday morning as many determined residents waded through the flood waters to get their children to school and to get to work.

Those living in Weirs Lane, Fox Crescent, Canning Crescent, Peel Place and Chatham Road had been told by the fire service on Thursday night to make plans to leave in case their homes flooded.

Residents in these areas said it was the worst flooding they had ever experienced.

Grandmother-of-five Christine Dowsing, 56, of Canning Crescent, said: “Weirs Lane was under water on Thursday night. I have lived here for 20 years and I have not seen it this bad.”

Fokhrul Dewan, 52, and his family have been using a canoe to get in and out of their home in Fox Crescent.

Dad-of-two Mr Dewan, who works as a chef at the Elaichi restaurant in Grove, said: “We’ve been surrounded by water for five days. Our garden has water up to the waist and the drive up to the knee.

“We have been using a boat and a pair of waders to leave the house for chores but my children have not been able to attend school for a week.”

He said they were advised to leave their home but added: “We have been lucky. Since then the water has gone down.”

Oxfordshire County Council confirmed a family of seven stayed at the Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre overnight after leaving their home in the Abingdon Road area on Thursday but were due to return yesterday.

Shirley Franklin, of Oswestry Road, off Abingdon Road, said: “I am so relieved it has gone down. It was the highest it has ever been and I have lived here 18 years.

“I have been really worried. It has been dreadful. I started moving furniture.”

Oxford Mail:

Shirley Franklin decided to stay at her house in Oswestry Road

Neighbour Steve Dyer, 47, said: “On Thursday night it was high. It was just underneath the floorboards and about one centimetre away from the chipboard.

“I bought the house seven years ago. This is the worst it has been.”

Oxford Mail:

Steve Dyer at his home in Oswestry Road

Neil Braich, a 27-year-old administrator of Abingdon Road, said: “Looking out the window at the flooding it is ridiculous.

“It is preventing you from doing everyday things and seeing friends and family.”

Grandmother-of-11 Jayne Madden, 55, of Weirs Lane, said: “I feel relieved it is going down.”

ROAD CLOSURES ACROSS THE COUNTY.

THESE were the road closures yesterday, according to Oxfordshire County Council:

  • Botley Road, Oxford, from the railway bridge by the train station to the junction with the A420/ A34 slip road by McDonald’s
  • Abingdon Road, Oxford, from its junction with old Abingdon Road through to its junction with Northampton Road
  • Islip – Lower Road and Mill Road. The route through the village is now via Kings Head Lane, which is under traffic signal control
  • London Lane, Ascott-under-Wychwood
  • Barford Road between Barford St John and Barford St Michael
  • B478 at Playhatch
  • The road to Woodeaton Village from B4027 to Elsfield/Marston Junction
  • Clifton Hampden to Long Wittenham (High Street)
  • Kennington Road, Kennington, by A34 slip road
  • Ferry Hinksey Road, Oxford
  • Link road from A34 to South Hinksey village
  • Binsey Lane, Oxford
  • Tollgate Road at Culham Bridge
  • West Hagbourne Village – York Road to Main Street
  • North Moreton to Wallingford road
  • Wytham to Wolvercote road (under the A34 bridge)
  • B4016 Blewbury Road, East Hagbourne
  • Minster Riding near the Old Swan Hotel near Minster Lovell
  • Dry Lane, Crawley
  • Junction of Evans Lane and Cherwell Avenue in Kidlington
  • Hithercroft Road from roundabout at Bosley Way near Wallingford to Anchor Lane at South Moreton
  • Drayton Road, Sutton Courtenay
  • Thameside, Henley from Hart Street to Friday Street
  • Godstow Road, Wolvercote
  • B4009 Chinnor Road at Aston Rowant