Flood groups in the county are calling for more sustainable plans to be put into place across Oxfordshire and the Thames valley.

The Sustainable Flood Plan Group (SFPG) for Oxford and the upper Thames valley has raised concerns that, without a comprehensive plan to tackle climate change, Oxfordshire may be the next county to be overwhelmed by flood water. 

Convenor of SFPG and Green Party Oxford City Council candidate for Carfax Dr Kate Prendergast said: "In the last year or so, we have heard politicians extoll the benefits of the proposed western conveyance channel (flood alleviation scheme) in protecting the residents of Oxford from future flooding events.

"Yet, this hugely costly scheme is unlikely to be implemented unless local landowners take on the unknown and ongoing expenses of its maintenance."

Dr Prendergast continued to say that the root causes of extreme flooding - climate change and agricultural and urban development - needed to be addressed in order to tackle the flooding.  

Chartered water engineer and Green Party Councillor Holywell Dr David Thomas said: "In an environment where devastating flood events are becoming more frequent, it is still not clear what the current spending commitments for flood protection in Oxford actually are.

"We are no nearer to funding our long-term needs for flood protection in Oxford and beyond.

But members of Oxford Flood Alliance are still hoping the flood alleviation channel - which is set to run between Botley Road and Sandford-on-Thames - would help to prevent a repeat of last year's devastating floods. 

The floods forced the closure of Botley Road and Abingdon Road at the beginning of 2014, leaving thousands of businesses out of pocket. 

Speaking about flooding in the county, Nicola Blackwood said: "Oxfordshire knows only too well the impact of flooding on its communities, business and daily life and we cannot afford to let pressure slip on the Oxford Flood Relief Channel."