A FLOODING expert will give his budget solutions for Oxford's flooding problems after a four-month tour of city's waterways - by canoe.

Mike Hamblett, a former land surveyor, believes a series of cheap, practical measures could offer an alternative solution to flooding in Oxford rather than waiting for a potential £100m scheme from the Environment Agency which would not be completed until 2015.

The 51-year-old's plans are to be unveiled at a public meeting on Thursday after winning the backing of the Oxford Flood Alliance, an organisation set up by local residents to reduce flooding risk in the city.

Mr Hamblett, who has seven years' experience as a land surveyor in the flood protection and land drainage department at the Southern Water Authority, said: "I was so dismayed about the poor flood victims in Duke and Earl Street last year that I thought I had to do something.

"They are sitting there with anxiety not knowing when the next episode of flooding is going to happen. It is ruining their lives.

"The Environment Agency study won't be finished until 2010 and then there probably won't be any money for a £100m scheme anyway. It isn't in the interests of these consultants to come up with low-cost, practical solutions because they want the money involved with a big scheme."

Mr Hamblett, of Harpes Road, Summertown, added: "I've studied all of the city's waterways and the upper catchment area of the Thames.

"I've been measuring all the culverts and the ditches on the main rivers and the side streams and all the obstructions to flow. I'm beginning to feel like I know every square inch of this waterway.

"It's much better doing this survey in a canoe because you can get access to everywhere on the waterway. You can also feel as well as see close up where the water is flowing and where it's clogging up."

Mr Hamblett's plans surround the Hinksey Stream at the Red Bridge area in Kennington which he describes as a bottleneck stopping flood water in Botley, Grandpont and Kennington from draining away.

He said: "We must unblock Redbridge. We can't do anything about flood defences along the Botley Road until we have sorted out the Redbridge area.

"Widening of culverts here is vital and would probably only cost hundreds of thousands of pounds not millions. The point is we can do these small jobs cheaply now rather that waiting years for a grand scheme which may never be delivered."

EA spokesman Dave Ferguson said: "We have not studied the waterway by canoe yet but it is something that could happen in the future.

"We are working closely with the Oxford Flood Alliance to develop plans to reduce flood risk in the city. We welcome opinions from anyone who has knowledge of the local waterways."

The plans are set to be presented at the Democrats Club, in East Street, Osney Island on Thursday at 7.30pm.

Mr Hamblett hit the headlines when he was prosecuted over a protest against the county council painting lines in his street as part of a permit scheme.