Your Oxfordshire
Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting 'OXFORD NEWS' to 80360 or email »
Flooding: worse to come
7:57pm Tuesday 24th July 2007
Comments (28)Water levels in Oxford are now not expected to reach their peak until Wednesday afternoon.
With a severe flood warning still in place for the Osney Island and Botley Road areas of the city, the Environment Agency predicts more homes will be flooded.
Agency spokesman Dave Ferguson said: "Due to the nature of the flooding we are expecting it to have quite an impact.
"Based on the latest information we have, we expect water levels around the Osney Island and Botley area to reach their peak some time tomorrow afternoon.
"We advise people to remain calm and to listen to the advice they are given by the emergency services."
The Environment Agency is also advising people to be prepared for a possible evacuation of their homes.
Anyone who feels they are in immediate danger should call 999.
Your Say YourHerald Series
LJ, Oxford says...
9:35pm Tue 24 Jul 07
marie, says...
9:41pm Tue 24 Jul 07
John, Oxon says...
9:48pm Tue 24 Jul 07
Emma, Oxford says...
9:56pm Tue 24 Jul 07
I too live off the Abingdon Rd, and am more worried this evening than at any point in the last 4 days. The lake in Hinksey Park is getting fuller and fuller, and the stream is now overflowing the cycle track and into the football field. It was water from these two sources that caused much flooding in 2003, combined with water coming up the Abingdon Rd from Donnington Bridge (which is rising again this evening).
Many many streets in South Oxford had water in them in 2003. I think that the people with sandbags are taking sensible precautions - there isn't a shortage of bags in Oxford at the moment.
If I were you I'd go down to the Duke of Monomouth and get some while you can!
Dan G, Reading says...
9:59pm Tue 24 Jul 07
Laura, Abingdon says...
10:20pm Tue 24 Jul 07
emily, abingdon road says...
10:35pm Tue 24 Jul 07
Emma wrote:i live on abingdon road, and have just been in hinksey park, if we dont get flooded homes it is a big thank you to the park as the water is filling up the field fast,.
LJ - which street off the Abingdon Rd do you live in, and were you here for the floods in Jan. 2003?
I too live off the Abingdon Rd, and am more worried this evening than at any point in the last 4 days. The lake in Hinksey Park is getting fuller and fuller, and the stream is now overflowing the cycle track and into the football field. It was water from these two sources that caused much flooding in 2003, combined with water coming up the Abingdon Rd from Donnington Bridge (which is rising again this evening).
Many many streets in South Oxford had water in them in 2003. I think that the people with sandbags are taking sensible precautions - there isn\'t a shortage of bags in Oxford at the moment.
If I were you I\'d go down to the Duke of Monomouth and get some while you can!
Biilly, Norreys Ave says...
10:50pm Tue 24 Jul 07
Chris, Oxford says...
10:50pm Tue 24 Jul 07
Laura wrote:I apollogise if people find my earlier remark a bit harsh but yesterday afternoon I was told quite cheerily, by a man from the Environment Agency that my house was not at risk and the flood levels in Oxford were dropping, only to find out they are not and I now have three inches of water in my front room which is rising fast.
For goodness sake Chris the EA are doing their very best. I doubt anyone could do any better, they aren't psychic, they are human beings. The information they give us is their best estimate at the time, things change so they have to change their predictions. With all the gallons of water its actually quite astounding that they manage to predict (to the best of their expertise) in millimetres no less, how much a river will rise.
As to sandbags, I had them in front of my door but they were next to useless as the water just percollated up through the floorboards.
I can apreciate the strain the EA are under at the monent but when you've been flooded out after being told you were safe you can understand why I'm a bit annoyed.
Dan G, Reading says...
10:53pm Tue 24 Jul 07
Fiona, Off Abingdon Road says...
11:00pm Tue 24 Jul 07
Rob, Donnington Bridge Rd, Oxford says...
11:52pm Tue 24 Jul 07
Maureen & Shelly, Duke of Monmouth says...
11:54pm Tue 24 Jul 07
emma, oxford says...
12:45am Wed 25 Jul 07
If anyone is still awake in the Abingdon Rd area, and fancies doing something, then perhaps they could lend a hand to my husband and a neighbour.
The water in Hinksey Lake is starting to find a route out half way along the cycle track between the end of Lake St and the end of Wytham St. It's not flooding out yet, but could be in a few hours. The circumstances are matching those in 2003.
My husband's gone to the Duke of Monmouth to get any sand bags he can lay his nands on, and will then go to the cycle path to see if he can plug the gap.
If you are able and esp. if you have a few spare sand bags, go along!
rolando medina, eynsham says...
12:51am Wed 25 Jul 07
Steve, Osney says...
12:54am Wed 25 Jul 07
Chris wrote:No apologies needed.
Laura wrote: For goodness sake Chris the EA are doing their very best. I doubt anyone could do any better, they aren't psychic, they are human beings. The information they give us is their best estimate at the time, things change so they have to change their predictions. With all the gallons of water its actually quite astounding that they manage to predict (to the best of their expertise) in millimetres no less, how much a river will rise.I apollogise if people find my earlier remark a bit harsh but yesterday afternoon I was told quite cheerily, by a man from the Environment Agency that my house was not at risk and the flood levels in Oxford were dropping, only to find out they are not and I now have three inches of water in my front room which is rising fast. As to sandbags, I had them in front of my door but they were next to useless as the water just percollated up through the floorboards. I can apreciate the strain the EA are under at the monent but when you've been flooded out after being told you were safe you can understand why I'm a bit annoyed.
I am also getting p~~~~~ off with the way the Environmental Agency are mis-informing the public, the Press and the emergency services.
A report from this site, yesterday morning:
"A SECOND peak on the River Thames is expected at Osney this morning.
The Environment Agency said that the river had peaked as expected last night - but water coming downstream from the River Windrush would cause water levels to rise again.
Tim Abbott, Environment Agency spokesman, said: "We are expecting another smaller peak at Osney which is coming through from the River Windrush at some point this morning.
"It's not going to be as high as the peak we have had already."
He said the severe flood warning would remain in place for the time being, but there had been no reports of more flooding to properties overnight." - 9:30am Tuesday 24th July 2007
According to local BBC and ITV reports, based on information provided to them by the EA on the same day, the expected "peak" would not reach us until some time within the next 48 hours.
In Osney, we've been getting told to brace ourselves for "worse to come" since Sunday afternoon, with various times for the dreaded "surge" to take place.
The fact is the EA haven't got a clue about how long this is going to last, and they are continually mis-informing the Press, the public, and our already-overstretche
d emergency services, in an attempt to cover up for their own incompetence.
Steve, Osney says...
1:10am Wed 25 Jul 07
John wrote:Fair enough.
Predicting flood peaks is extremely difficult, especially on a river as complex as the Thames. Each tributary has it's own peak and influence and each of them will contribute to the Thames at different times and levels. Plus plenty of other variables, baseflow etc. An almost impossible task. Give the guys a break, to get it tied down to within a day or two is hard enough and they have to err on the side of caution. Better to have got it wrong by a few hours and inches than to not warn and protect.
But, why doesn't the EA just tell the truth, and admit it can't say how long this is going to last for, instead of making predictions and building-up the confidence of the public and all others involved with and affected, who naturally, presume the EA is an experienced and trustworthy organisation?
Georges C, walton st says...
1:20am Wed 25 Jul 07
Laua Morang, USA. Athens, GA says...
2:28am Wed 25 Jul 07
am supposed to fly from the US on Thursday to visit friends in Oxford. Dr Ouzts is taking courses at the University so he and his wife are enjoying living in Oxford.
This might sound like a stupid question but I have not been able to contact the Ouzts's via email. I take it from all I read on the internet that there is and going to be more serious flooding in Oxford. Should I delay my trip for a week or so until the waters recede?
Again, I know this is a frivilous question to you who are at risk of losing your homes and grave concerns about your families and neighbors.
Is the electricity still on in Oxford?
Thank you
Laura Morang
Kit, Oxford says...
3:11am Wed 25 Jul 07
It depends on where your friends are living - if they are living in West Oxford there might be some disruption but almost all of Oxford is totally normal except for slightly more traffic on the arterial roads. I live in East Oxford and work in North Oxford and haven't even seen any floodwater.
Remember, Oxford is a city spread out over a large area - tragic though the flooding is it only directly affects a very small number of people.
Ellen, Abingdon Road says...
6:46am Wed 25 Jul 07
Noah, Oxford says...
8:48am Wed 25 Jul 07
Paula, Worcester says...
11:23am Wed 25 Jul 07
Does anyone know if Henry Road off Botley Road is flooded?
Len, Oxford says...
12:44pm Wed 25 Jul 07
All the people moaning about this here are probably not, and should be helping out, where is that bulldog spirit?http://news.b
bc.co.uk/1/hi/magazi
ne/6913404.stm
marie, abingdon says...
2:57pm Wed 25 Jul 07
William Bowe, Fenton, MO USA says...
6:54pm Wed 25 Jul 07
okay, says...
9:04pm Fri 27 Jul 07
In this section
- County opposition picks cabinet
- 42 drivers caught in police check
- Grant boosts rape crisis line's work
- All change on buses in Queen Street
- Cuts are criticised
- Babies 'at risk' in beds move
- Customers needed to save HFT cafe
- Top honour for carers
- They called this 'wanton vandalism'
- Police crack down on thieves
Sponsored Links
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Chris, Oxford says...
8:52pm Tue 24 Jul 07