PRIME Minister David Cameron pledged his support and £42m for a flood relief channel through Oxfordshire yesterday.

The proposed £120m Western Conveyance Scheme will run from the area around Seacourt park-and-ride off Botley Road to the River Thames at Sandford Lock, and divert water away from the city.

With Oxford having suffered from floods in 2007, 2012 and at the start of this 2014, the channel is seen by many as a solution to prevent it happening again.

During a visit to Oxford to see other Envrionment Agency flood defences in action, Mr Cameron offered his assurances the scheme would finally go ahead after years of waiting.

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He said: “It’s really good news. I’m delighted that the Government is putting more than £40m towards the Western Conveyance to help ease the problem of flooding in Oxford. I think it’s a really good scheme.”

“The Government is doing its bit by funding the Environment Agency and making available the money and I’m sure now local councils will come forward and the money will be found and the work will begin and this long-term plan will be put in place.”

An estimated 7,600 homes will be better protected against flooding on completion of the scheme, which could begin construction in 2018.

Alongside the £42m committed today, there has been £26m from the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, £14m from the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committees, and £2m from local councils secured, taking the running total to £84m. The Environment Agency hoped to secure more Government funding as the project progressed to take them to £100m, but admitted there would still be £20m to find from local partners in the next three years.

And another £20m would be needed for future maintenance.

Oxfordshire County Council deputy leader Rodney Rose said the remaining money could come from organisations who would benefit from the scheme.

He said: “Network Rail and Thames Water will benefit greatly from the flood scheme as well as Oxford University colleges. We will be asking them, certainly. We had no money last November, I’m sure we can get £20m in the next three years.

Responding to Mr Cameron’s backing for the scheme, he added: “It’s fantastic, it cements the money in place and gives weight to this project. The Prime Minister has come here and he’s put his footprint on it.”

MP for Oxford West and Abingdon Nicola Blackwood said: “Today’s funding announcement will ensure the Oxford Flood Relief Channel becomes a reality. It will give the 7,600 homes and businesses affected by flooding in Oxford peace of mind no matter the weather.”

She said she was confident the remaining £20m would be secured and she would make sure the scheme goes ahead.

She added: “If between local partners such as Thames Water and Network Rail, the money can’t be found then they are not trying hard enough.”

All projects below to receive Government funding and the total cost of the schemes (Not the amount given to them by the Government)

  • Abingdon River Ock Flood Storage Area: £3.4M 
  • Abingdon River Stert Flood Alleviation Scheme: £140,900 
  • Abingdon St Helen's Wharf Flood Alleviation Scheme: £571,000 
  • Bicester Town Centre Trash Screen Investigation: £35,000 
  • Bloxham (Tadmarton Road) Flood Risk Management Scheme: £79,000 
  • Bloxham Flood Alleviation Scheme: £268,800 
  • Boundary Brook Catchment (Florence Park) Flood Alleviation: £415,000 
  • Mill Lane Chalgrove Flood Attenuation Scheme: £40,000 
  • Northway & Marston Flood Risk Alleviation Scheme: £1.4M 
  • Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (formerly Oxford Western Conveyance Flood Channel Scheme): £120M 
  • Paddle Rymer Package 2: £38,096 
  • Paddle and Rymer H and S: £13,200 
  • Wendlebury: £300,000 
  • West Hagbourne Flood Alleviation: £20,000 
  • Wheatley West Attenuation Scheme: £40,000 
  • Witney Initial Assessment: £90,000

There were fears the channel could increase flood risk further downstream from the channel around Abingdon, but Mr Cameron said he had received assurances this would not be the case.

Ms Blackwood said although there was no increased flood risk, flood defence schemes in Abingdon had also received funding.

A FLOOD victim has said the community was “desperate” for the Western Conveyance.
South Hinksey resident Adrian Porter said February’s floods had been the worst in the village since 1947.
The 43-year-old father-of-three, also a member of Oxford Flood Alliance, spent £10,000 flood-proofing his home.
He said: “We desperately want this scheme, not just for our village, but for the whole of Oxford. It will relieve a huge amount of pressure.”
He said affording home insurance in the village was “definitely a problem” for some residents because the flood risk was so high. He added: “We are cautiously optimistic, but we do absolutely want this.” 
Oxford City Councillor for Osney Susanna Pressel called the Government’s pledge of £42m for the flood relief channel “wonderful”.
She said: “Dozens of homes in my ward were flooded, and even if you weren’t, there is the anxiety of just seeing other people flooded out.
“The effect on people with young children and the elderly is terrible. People will be extremely relieved.”
January and February’s floods, which closed Botley and Abingdon roads for days on end, cost the city economy an estimated £45m.
Oxford City Centre Manager Laurie-Jane Taylor said retailers still mention the impact now, and would welcome the Western Conveyance funding.
She said: “This is absolutely good news. Anything like that is  fantastic news.
“The flooding this year caused huge amounts of disruption and we wouldn’t want to see anything like that happen again.”
Wayne Gray, who owns Top Tackle angling supplies in Abingdon Road, said: “Hopefully, this is good news. 
“The flooding just stops people from coming to the shop, that is the problem.
“In February the road was shut for over week, and we noticed the dent in business. 
“Anything that can help prevent that is good.”
Oxford City councillor John Tanner, who lives in South Oxford, welcomed the news but stressed the Western Conveyance should be part of a wider strategy to combat flooding. 
He said: “We still need to make sure landowners keep their ditches clear and farmers change methods so there isn’t so much run-off from their fields.”

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