PROPOSALS to reduce the risk of flooding in Abingdon have gone on display in the town.

The Environment Agency, working with Vale of White Horse District Council and Oxfordshire County Council have been attempting to better understand the causes of flooding locally and look at measures to reduce the risk in the future.

Options for the town, which in 2007 saw 400 houses flooded, all include creating a flood storage area at Abingdon Common.

This has not yet been designed or approved but work is anticipated to begin in 2020.

The area, which would be used to keep flood water away from properties and roads, is floodplain and farmland.

To complement this the government body is also looking into the benefits of natural flood management in the wider catchment area and property resilience.

A drop in session took place on Wednesday in the pop up shop space in Abingdon’s Bury Street.

Members of the project team were on hand to discuss the plans for Abingdon and for residents to share their comments and local knowledge.

David Bedlington from the Environment Agency said: “We have been working with our partners to develop a scheme to reduce flooding from the River Ock.

“There is still much work to do, but we now have some options that we would like to share with the local community.”

The Rivers Ock, Thames, Stert and the Sandford Brook all contribute to flooding in Abingdon.

Funding from the Vale of White Horse District Council and the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee has been used to progress the work of the local prevention team.

Matthew Barber, leader of the Vale council, said: “We know the impact of flooding on residents in this area, which is why we are investing in this scheme and are working with the Environment Agency and our other partners to help protect people’s homes and properties.”

Some measures have already been put in place to protect the area from flooding.

Last year a flood wall was built to reduce the risk to St Helen’s Mill.

There are also temporary defences available to deploy in Potenger Way, Tower Close, Meadowside and Hermitage Road.

For updates email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk