Flooding - July 2007

During July 2007 West Oxfordshire suffered its worse floods for years. Rainfall levels were the highest since records began and a total of 126.2mm of rain was recorded at RAF Brize Norton's weather station on 20 July. The previous record at that location was 79.5mm in 1968.

In the region of 1631 homes and 72 businesses were flooded across West Oxfordshire.

During those 5 days we issued approximately 30,000 sandbags, dealt with 632 emergency phone calls and well over 1600 routine calls, double the total for the previous week.

This website received almost 22,800 visits - three times the normal number - with people anxious to find out the latest news on the weather and road conditions locally.

120 Council staff were involved in providing emergency support and our grounds and cleansing crews worked around the clock filling and distributing sandbags to residents and clearing flood damaged goods from the highways. Goods were still being collected by the crews nearly 4 weeks after the event.

150 residents took refuge at one of the four rest centres set up at Witney, Carterton and Long Hanborough and 60 residents were provided with temporary accommodation at various locations in and around the district.

The Government later announced an initial £600,000 flood relief fund to help flood-hit residents in West Oxfordshire get back on their feet.

Following the 2007 summer floods:
The Council is carrying out a strategic flood review and in January 2008 published an Interim flood review report. The report looks into why the floods happened and the aftermath. It outlines the emergency response, the recovery, and what is now being done to prevent future flooding along with further steps to be implemented. This important first part is a vital component in the full Strategic Flood Review.

Ditch clearance work is also well underway with the Council first clearing all the ditches it owns - a schedule of works can be viewed on the ditches and watercourses page.

Engineers are also surveying the areas which flooded and mapping all watercourses in the district and identifying their ownership. By summer 2008 each parish will have its own Flood Defence report. For more information see our ditches and watercourses page.

The Environment Agency has also published flood review reports following the Summer 2007 floods. You can view these on our flood reports and reviews page.

British Red Cross Flood Recovery Grant
(The adminstration of this grant is being carried out by West Oxfordshire District Council on behalf of the British Red Cross and all other Oxfordshire Councils).

The Red Cross Flood Relief Hardship Scheme for Oxfordshire was launched in November 2007 aimed at assisting those people left most vulnerable as a result of the floods in Oxfordshire in July 2007.

The scheme has so far to date helped around 70 households throughout Oxfordshire in reducing their financial cost and suffering as a direct consequence of the flooding that occurred in July 2007. By the end of March awards of £130,000 had been made to the 70 households giving an average award of almost £2,000.

The distribution board would like to invite further applications from households who fall into the categories set out below and who have suffered uninsured losses.

The grant will provide support and assistance for the cost of the clean-up operation, including:

Assistance with increased electricity/gas bills incurred by drying out.
Additional costs associated with living in temporary accommodation.
Costs incurred in bringing a home up to habitable standard including restoring power/ heating.
Replacement of damaged essential items.
Survey costs incurred by household but not paid by insurance.
Lightweight aqua sacs to replace sandbags

The fund will not be used to cover any insured loss of the applicant.

Specific criteria will be for the relief of hardship for those who have suffered uninsured loss who:

1. Are in receipt of income support, income based job seekers allowance, pension credit or disability living allowance or some other state benefits.

2. Are in a vulnerable group - disabled, elderly, single parents with young children and have low income

and who have suffered loss that has not been covered from other funding or have been forced out of their homes and need assistance to return.

If you meet the criteria above, please complete the British Red Cross Flood Relief application form. If you have any queries about the form please call 01993 861000 or complete our general enquiry form.

Those living in West Oxfordshire can also pick up an application form from one of our council reception areas or Town Centre Shops or call 01993 861000. If you live in a neighbouring authority please contact your local Council for your closest collection point:

Cherwell District Council: 01295 252535
Oxford City Council: 01865 249811
Vale of White Horse District Council: 01235 520202