Site directory

Address

Flood case study - Riverside Gardens, Witney

Riverside Gardens is a small development of retirement sheltered housing. There are 47 homes and the residents are all in their 80s and 90s. Its attractive location overlooks the River Windrush in Witney.

Last July the river broke its banks and the water swept through leaving the site flooded. 

Deanna Teal, Warden said, "The water came surging through and in no time we were wading through several feet. It was a sick, sick feeling. The first thing I did was to pick up the phone and then it was all action stations as help arrived immediately. The emergency services and the Council were great, they evacuated all the residents safely."

Some residents were able to return once the waters receded as there homes were on higher ground.

One of the residents, 82 year old Miss Theo Howells, was out for 7 months but is now back home. She recalls the flood very vividly: "Everything happened so quickly. It was a sunny morning after the heavy rain on Friday, I had a phone call and then went to my front door and saw water coming towards me. It was a complete shock. I just stood there shaking. We were rescued in a boat - there was no time to change, so I left in my slippers."

Theo is happy to be back home, but the experience has left her feeling very anxious and she said, "I always keep an eye on the river levels when it rains."

Although many of the Riverside Garden residents are now back, some will not be returning.  Deanna Teal explains, "Staying with relatives or in a residential care home has had a big impact for some, who, after being looked after for several months, now feel unable to cope with independent living. We have 9 empty homes whereas a year ago, before the flood, all the properties were full."

Warden Deana Teal with Miss Theo Howells outside her home

Do it online

Go to My West Oxfordshire for all your local information or view all online services

Let us know about any problems with our website

File downloads

View all Publications and register for email alerts when they are updated.

Email alert