Witney News - Flood scheme to help Witney residents

Flood scheme to help Witney residents

Residents of Queen Emma’s Dyke in Witney may soon be able to breathe a sigh of relief as proposals for West Oxfordshire District Council to take over the maintenance of a ‘flood problem’ ditch and carry out further flood prevention work have been agreed.

The development, built by Pye Homes, has suffered from repeated localised flooding for many years. Houses adjacent to the Henry Box playing fields in Witney and the footpath are also prone to flooding.

Problems have been associated with a ditch running alongside the Henry Box playing fields, which is largely owned by Pye Homes as well as water run-off from the highway and Queen Emma’s Dyke estate.

West Oxfordshire District Council has negotiated with Pye Homes for the Council to enter into a legal agreement to take ownership of the watercourse section known as ‘the Henry Box School ditch.

As a council-owned ditch it would form part of the regular litter collection round and annual ditch cleaning contract, preventing the ditch being an environmental problem and allowing the Council to maintain a critical part of the local surface water drainage system.

In addition, it has been agreed to lay down porous paving on a communal area of Queen Emma’s Dyke. This will help soak up storm water and significantly reduce the flow of water run-off. Costs will be shared between the Council and PYE homes with householders also paying a contribution.

West Oxfordshire District Council has already fitted a non-return valve to a drain connecting into Ducklington Lane and this will also help prevent water backing up the entire pipe length to the properties.

Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment said, “Queen Emma’s Dyke residents have suffered many years of misery with flood water regularly coming into their homes after heavy rainfall. Action taken to reduce the likelihood of future flooding will be a huge relief to them.

“Although the large-scale flood devastation happened in 2007we are continuing to work tirelessly to bring about improvements that will help residents.”