A flooding update

All agencies including the county council, the city and district councils, the Environment Agency, the police and fire and rescue service, and many others, have been working very closely together on responding to the flooding situation and will continue to do so over the coming days. Partners are working together both locally and as part of the Thames Valley Resilience Forum using long established planning for such incidents. Staff from all agencies are out on the ground to minimise the impact of the floods and to warn and inform our communities.

The county council’s fire and rescue service, highways teams and emergency planning teams remain very active in helping communities suffering from flooding and will remain so until waters subside. On Thursday, they worked through the night during the heavy rain to help communities experiencing flooding. They were particularly active again last night in the south of Oxfordshire, notably in Abingdon and Dorchester. Social care teams are ensuring that vulnerable people are helped if needed.

Oxford’s Abingdon Road is closed but access can be gained through the High Street bus gates until the water levels are again at passable levels. The fire and rescue service has been pumping floodwater away from this area.

While both Redbridge and Seacourt Park and Rides are impacted by flooding, the Oxford Parkway, Thornhill and Pear Tree are operating and people are encouraged to use these sites.

Flood defences are in place at Osney Island and Vicarage Lane in Oxford and at South Hinksey just to the west of the city.
The Thames water levels have stabilised up stream and around Oxford. But they will remain high for another few days. The Environment Agency and Met Office does not forecast rain currently for the next five days.

Partners across the Thames Valley will continue to work together over the weekend to assess the risk of any further flooding and provide support to communities. We are urging people to stay safe and to remember to take extreme care while walking beside swollen rivers.

Flooding of low-lying roads is also possible and people must avoid driving through flood water, as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move a car. Residents are advised to check one.network for road closure updates.

People should check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation from the Environment Agency at gov.uk/check-if-youre-at-risk-of-flooding. You are advised to direct residents to this website and to X (formerly known as Twitter) @EnvAgencySE for timely updates. Residents can call the Environment Agency’s flooding hotline for advice and support at any time, seven days a week, on 0345 988 1188. Our news webpage also contains helpful information and signposting and is being updated regularly.

Colder weather is due in the next few days. Standing water could lead to ice hazards. The county council’s gritting crews are ready to respond if required.

Martin Reeves
Chief Executive
Oxfordshire County Council, County Hall, Oxford, OX1 1ND
oxfordshire.gov.uk