Sir – So, this is the fourth major flood to hit Oxford in a decade.

While the flood defences put in place in the last few years have had a noticeable impact, at least in West Oxford, we should not ignore the main reason why we have this problem, namely that Oxford City Council’s planners have weakly allowed the systematic erosion of the floodplain in and around our city.


The large retail developments along the Botley Road, for example, are built on floodplain. Not only that, but the premises of PC World, Currys and so on are built well above flood plain so that they (and their car parks) are not at risk of flooding but residents 100 yards away are.


It is time for Oxford City Council to think more imaginatively. Why not take steps, compulsory ones if necessary, to get car parks for the Botley Road superstores lowered to the level of the floodplain, thus increasing the size of the floodplain? Why not prevent all development in ‘at risk areas’ or close to ‘at risk areas’?


Bizarrely, planning permision was granted some months ago for eight flats to be built on the site of a print works in Lamarsh Road. This site has flood water on three sides. Why on earth was permission given?
It is time for us all to recognise that flood defences only help us up to a point. If Oxford City Council do not take more practical measures to protect and increase the flood plain, we are only going to be faced with more of the same, year on year.
Richard Bowen, Oxford