Witney News - Ditch clearance programme aids flood prevention

Ditch clearance programme aids flood prevention

Workers from Ubico, West Oxfordshire District Council’s maintenance company, have completed a major programme of ditch clearance in the district.

A total of five kilometres of ditches controlled by the council have been cleared of debris such as branches and litter as well as general silt where necessary.

Areas cleared include parts of Bampton and Carterton as well as Madley Brook and Judd’s Close in Witney with work starting in October last year to minimise disruption to local ecology.
The work is in addition to routine inspections of known problematic pinch points, culvert inlets and critical drainage systems.

Engineers work with landowners to clear ditches and watercourses as well as reacting to messages from residents about specific locations which are causing concern.

David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “After the flooding in a 2007 a flood prevention programme was introduced and this is part of it.

“Areas were highlighted then that we need to maintain to a high standard with the co-operation of residents. I am confident the measures have had a major impact on flood prevention.”