MORE work must be done to ensure a £120m flood relief channel does not spoil treasured views of Oxford and a key wildlife site, a council has said.

Work on the three-mile channel from Seacourt Park and Ride to south of the A423 near Kennington could begin later this year, but the county council has urged building to be delayed because it would clash with another key infrastructure project.

But Vale of White Horse District Council said that while it has no objection in principle to the scheme, it is ‘concerned’ about ecological problems that might be caused by it.

It also says views enjoyed by artist JMW Turner along with others by John Ruskin and his followers in North Hinksey could be significantly impacted.

The county council has already pleaded with the EA to reschedule the building of the flood relief channel so it does not clash with work on the £9.1m Botley Road Corridor project.

And a report that will be seen by Vale councillors on Wednesday says that the EA’s current plans ‘may have a negative impact on biodiversity and could have an adverse impact on Egrove Park Meadow Local Wildlife Site.’

The EA’s application includes development north of Botley Road and east of Seacourt Park and Ride, south of Botley Road and east of North Hinksey and Kennington. Although that includes land is within Oxford City Council’s boundaries, the Vale’s report only touches of areas within the district.

Vale will urge that the layering and heritage value of trees is considered so that there is a ‘deeper understanding of views’ and how they contribute to views of Oxford.

The works, which will take about three years, will involve access routes from the A34 via the Botley Road and West Way, the South Hinksey Interchange on the A34, Old Abingdon Road and Abingdon Road.

The channel will be built to carry excess water from the Seacourt Stream, Bulstake Stream and Hinksey Stream to prevent flooding in the River Thames and in built-up areas.

JMW Turner, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest landscape artist of all time, painted more than 30 watercolours of views around Oxford. That was most far the most he painted of any place. He knew the city well, having visited relatives in Sunningwell when he was a boy.

Other concerns from Vale say the scheme will result in the loss of most of the plants and trees to the west of Botley Road Retail Park, off Botley Road.

The planting reduces the impact of building on Seacourt Nature Reserve nearby.

Vale council’s planning committee will be asked for its views on the project so far on Wednesday – but the county council will make the final decision.