Flooding: Threat receding but vandals strike (From Oxford Mail)

Flooding: Threat receding but vandals strike

11:39am Sunday 20th January 2008 in News By Jason Collie

The threat of flooded homes is "quickly receding" - although vandals have attacked a barrier overnight.

Oxfordshire County Council's emergency planning officer John Kelly continued to paint an optimistic picture this morning.

He said:

• Water levels across the county are dropping significantly
• The Thames is receding, albeit slowly
• In Kelmscott, where properties were flooded a few days ago, the water has dropped significantly
• At Bablock Hythe, where families were told yesterday to leave for their own safety, the road leading to the area is now passable with care
• And flood barriers are thought to have saved 30 homes in Oxford itself.

But Mr Kelly condemned vandals who have slashed a black flood barrier at Kennington overnight.

He said it was fortunate water levels there had actually dropped, otherwise it would have led to flooding.

It came after a thief had stolen a pump in Botley on Friday.

Mr Kelly said: "This kind of thing makes life very difficult for responding agencies and residents and is utterly thoughtless."