Flooding Blog: Thursday, December 27 (From Oxford Mail)

10:01pm

The flood barrier in Lake Street, Oxford tonight, from a reader 

9:13pm

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8:47pm

More pictures now online in our gallery

6:28pm

Environment Agency workers are putting up a flood barrier in Vicarage Lane, off Abingdon Road in South Oxford.

A spokesman said no barriers had yet been deployed in neighbouring Hinksey Park but the situation there was being monitored. 

6:27pm

Oxfordshire County Council says Ferry Hinksey Road is closed but residents and local businesses can still have access.

5:53pm

12:24pm

Daniel Warren, publicity assistant for the Oxford Bus Company, said it was suspending use of the bus stops at the junctions of Abingdon Road and Chatham Road in both directions because of standing flood water.

He said: "We don't want our customers getting wet feet when they get on and off the buses."
 

12:24pm

New picture gallery has been launched at oxfordmail.co.uk/pictures/oxfordshire_galleries/.

Please send us your pictures via email to picturedesk@oxfordmail.co.uk

12:17pm

Flooding at the Seacourt Park and Ride

12:14pm

More flooding in Abingdon Road

12:05pm

We've had an update from the MET Office. Spokeswoman Sarah Holland said around 10 to 15mm of rain is expected to fall overnight, in between dry periods. She said: "The next hour Oxford should see the last of today's showers and the rest of the day should be dry. "We aren't expecting huge amounts of rain overnight but the problem is now it has nowhere to go and is causing flooding. "The winds are going to pick up over the next 24 hours and it will become quite blustery heading into the weekend." Oxfordshire County Council officers are still monitoring Abingdon Road but as yet there are no plans to close it. Water is reported the inbound lane in Weirs Lane area, which is described as “passable with care”.

11:44am

Network Rail has said it had no plans to close lines at Hinksey and Headington, despite reports of track flooding.

Spokesman PJ Taylor said the company had a conversation with the Environment Agency at 8pm last night as the River Cherwell was taken off flood alert.

He said: "Water levels are still rising and we will continue to monitor but as the flood warning for the River Cherwell was no longer in force the Environment Agency believed it had peaked and we were over the worst of it.”

11:43am

Maria Banks on Manor Road in South Hinksey with her two dogs

11:42am

Flooding in South Hinksey

11:05am

Colin Hannaford, 69 of Marlboro Court, is filling sandbags for himself and his neighbours.

10:56am

Because Clifton Hampden High Street has been closed this morning due to flooding at Clifton Hampden Bridge, local drivers have suggested the Shillingford Bridge as the best alternative.

10:55am

Oxford City Council has said sand and bags are available for residents from

• Redbridge Park and Ride
• PC World in Botley Road

And sandbags are available from outside the Duke of Monmouth pub in Abingdon Road.

10:51am

Abingdon Road remains open however a nearby towpath has been closed.

The walkway from Donnington Bridge Road to Abingdon Road and on to Whitehouse Road has flooded.

West Oxfordshire District Council has opened its community sandbag points.

In an emergency loose sand and bags are available for householders to make up themselves.

The following neighbourhood sandbag centres are now open:

• Ascott-under-Wychwood: Car park next to village hall.
• Shipton Road, Burford: The Rec Car Park, Tanners Lane.  
• Charlbury: Charlbury Bowls Club, Ticknell Piece Road.
• Clanfield: Car park next to the Carter Institute, Main Road.
• Milton-under-Wychwood: Car park village hall, Shipton Road.
• Shipton-under-Wychwood: The New Beaconsfield Hall and Recreation Ground, Station Road.
   

10:48am

In Osney Court even the portable toilets supposed to be helping residents cope with the flooding are now partially under water.

10:47am

The allotments off Bullstake Close are under more than a foot of water, but metal flood barriers are protecting neighbouring houses.

Jonathan Zerihan, 37, from nearby Earl Street said it would be good to see them made permanent.
"Right now they're dong a good job," he said. "But I definitely think the water is still rising.
"And it looks as if its flowing towards Oxford."

10:45am

Oxfordshire City council has reported Seacourt Park and Ride is still open, but free to park as payment machines are in the water affected area.

10:41am

Oxford City Council employees are using five mobile pumps to try and stop the flood waters from rising.

10:39am

Flooding in Bullstake Close

10:37am

10:37am

Flooding in Bullstake Close

10:34am

10:28am

The Environment Agency has urged residents to stay vigilant as it expects river levels in Oxfordshire to continue rising over the coming days.

It said residents living in at risk areas, with the River Thames singled out, must look at installing defences.

Further downpours are expected and despite having several waterways taken off flood warning they could easily return due to the sensitivity of river levels.

The River Thames is continuing to respond to the recent heavy rainfall and, as the smaller tributaries feed in, levels continue to rise slowly.

Boat owners are also being urged to check their vessels are moored securely where it is safe to do so.

Peter Quarmby, Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, said: “We are closely monitoring the situation across the South East as river levels continue to rise, particularly on the Thames.

“Now is a good time for anyone who lives in an area vulnerable to flooding to think about the precautions they can take to protect their properties, and I would encourage everybody to check their flood risk at the Environment Agency website and keep up to date on warnings.”

He added that motorists should not drive through flood water due to the danger it caused.
 

10:09am

Oxfordshire County Council officers assess flooding in Abingdon Road

10:05am

The MET Office is predicting no let up in the rain over Oxford today with heavy downpours expected to fall this morning.

Forecasters believe this afternoon will become drier and brighter with winds easing.

Severe weather warnings for rain remain in place, with up to 20mm expected to fall over the course of the day.

A dry, chilly evening is also predicted, however strengthening southwesterly winds is expected to bring more rain from the west through the early hours.

Early indications for tomorrow give an overcast but drier day.

10:04am

Cars driving through the Abingdon Road flood waters

9:53am

The Environment Agency has removed a number of waterways in Oxfordshire from flood alert over the last 24 hours.

Those are

• Sor Brook and the Bloxham Brook and their tributaries from Horley and Bloxham to and including Adderbury
• The River Ock from Watchfield to Abingdon including, Stanford in the Vale, Charney Bassett, Lyford and Garford
• Letcombe Brook at Wantage, Grove and East Hanney.
• The Langford and Wendlebury Brooks and their tributaries from Stratton Audley down to the M40 near Merton, including Bicester and Wendlebury
• The River Cherwell and its tributaries from Charwelton to just above Upper Heyford including Woodford Halse, Edgcote, Cropredy, Marston St Lawrence, Banbury, Kings Sutton, Hook Norton.
• The River Cherwell from Lower Heyford down to Cherwell Bridge including Rousham, Enslow, Thrupp and Hampton Poyle.
• The River Windrush at Witney and Ducklington down to and including Hardwick has also been removed from flood warning, as has Chalgrove Brook at Chalgrove and Stadhampton.

9:52am

Signs have gone up on Abingdon Road warning residents of the flooding. There are large puddles and surface water but the road has not been fully submerged yet.

9:51am

Oxfordshire County Council has said Abingdon Road is open but is being kept "under review" due to water levels in the area near Weirs Lane. It said the inbound lane was particularly affected and asked drivers to proceed with due caution.

9:43am

Oxfordshire County Council staff have been spotted on Abingdon Road, assessing the flooding.

9:42am

Oxfordshire County Council has refused to confirm or deny if it is to close Abingdon Road.

Drivers have reported increasing problems along the route over the last 24 hours but no information has been released.

In November the county council enlisted Thames Valley Police to stop motorists driving down the road during floods as cars sent waves of water into nearby homes and businesses.

9:38am

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9:33am

Wiers Lane resident Jim Webb, 78, said: "There are many idiot drivers around. They can't use the roads and they can't use their brains. At the moment my garden has about 4 ft of water in it. At the moment we are biting our fingernails."

9:26am

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9:10am

9:09am

9:08am

Also from Facebook, reader Lydia Hearmon says people should take care travelling between Wallingford and Didcot after travelling the route last night.

8:48am

Remember, you can help make this blog better by telling us what you see out there on the ground. Either leave a comment below or tweet us via @theoxfordmail. You can email us as well.

8:45am

Some good news though from the county council

Langford and Wendlebury Brooks, River Ock and Letcombe Brook no longer on Flood Alert or Flood Warning. http://t.co/h5QgZp11

— @OxfordshireCC 27 December 2012

8:42am

Oxfordshire County Council's information about road closures remains the same as it did las night:

Road closures

• Clifton Hampden  - Long Wittenham
• Ascott  Under Wychwood – Chipping Norton Hill
• Islip – Lower Street
• Hook Norton – Sibford Rd
• Drayton St Leonard – Stadhampton
• Witney – Footpath from Woodford Mill to Hailey Rd

Other roads of note with flood boards out

• B478 Sonning Bridge
• A417 Challow
• B4022 at Hailey
• Main Road in North Newington
• Fox Lane in Wootton, near Abingdon
• Witheridge Hill in Stoke Row
• Oxford Road, Horspath
• B4020 Shilton Road, Burford
• B4000 south of Watchfield and Lower Road in Eynsham