ONE more flood and we will move – that was the warning from an Oxford father today after a new flood barrier was tested outside his home.

Father-of-three Jalal Khan welcomed the new £50,000 barrier, which will cover 100 metres of Bullstake Close, off Botley Road, and provides protection about a metre high.

But the manager of the Aziz Indian restaurant, in Cowley Road, said his home had been flooded three times in 10 years and he was still not “100 per cent convinced” the aluminium barrier would protect it in future.

Mr Khan, 40, who lives in Bullstake Close with his wife Jahanara, 34, and children Halima, 16, Amer, 13, and Sami, six, said: “If the barrier stops flooding in the future then that’s good but if we’re flooded again we will have to move.

“I really don’t want to move, because this is a lovely location and a good neighbourhood.

“We were flooded three months after we moved in 10 years ago. We weren’t insured and lost about £5,000 in carpets and furniture.

“For the third flood in 2007 we weren’t insured again and it cost thousands in carpets, furniture and children’s toys – it’s very upsetting for the whole family.”

In July 2007, flooding caused £250,000 of damage after the Bullstake Stream flooded and water three feet deep flowed into a number of homes in Bullstake Close.

Linda Booker, the council’s estate manager, said: “In 2007 Mr Khan supplied our workers at night with Indian meals – everyone was very impressed.”

Peggy Baxter, 84, of Bullstake Close, who was flooded for the third time in July 2007, said: “I live in an upstairs flat and my stairway got soaked – all the carpets had to be replaced. I’m very pleased indeed to see this work being done.”

Former bus driver Clive Soanes, 63, who lives in a one-bedroom flat with his disabled wife Jennifer, 60, said they “lost everything” when their home was flooded in 2007.

“My insurance paid out £8,000, because I had to replace furniture, TVs, the washing machine and the bed,” he said.

“I think this barrier will help and I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

Sean Fry, the council’s responsive operations manager, said the barrier was designed to protect 26 homes against a one-in-five year to one-in-10 year flood event, and added that the council had invested in the barrier after the Environment Agency declined to provide the funding.

Mr Fry added: “When we get an indication that water from the Bullstake Stream is moving across the flood plain, we will set up the barrier within 90 minutes.

“I think we might be able to put it up in about an hour if we had enough staff working on it.”

When the barrier is not needed, it will be stored at the City Works depot in Horspath Road, Cowley.

The Environment Agency has bought similar demountable barriers to protect Osney Island, in West Oxford, and the Vicarage Lane and Lake Street area of South Oxford.