Category Archives: flood

Environment Agency Tests Temporary Flood Barrier in Abingdon

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The Environment Agency (EA) today carried out a trial deployment of its temporary flood-defence barrier in Abingdon.  Developed in response to three separate floods in January, November and December 2024, the scheme is designed to withstand a one-in-thirty-year flood event. The equipment will be stored locally and can be used to protect up to 30 homes in Chaunterell Way and Nash Drive if flooding occurs this winter.

Today’s exercise allowed the EA field team to practise deployment, check alignment, and time how quickly the barrier can be installed. Three 50-metre sections were taken from crates and assembled on site. Once in place, plastic sheeting and weighted chains were laid over the structure to seal gaps and form a watertight dam.

Tesco Path repairs and Temporary Flood Barrier enabling work

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Following recent floods, part of the riverside path from the Ladygrove Estate to Tesco was badly damaged, between the Tesco perimeter and the first bridge. Repair work began in July 2025, and the path is now fully restored and open again.

Further downstream along the River Ock, near the Ladygrove Estate, a notice has been posted close to Jenyns Court, near Chaunterell Way. The Environment Agency will be carrying out enabling works for a temporary flood barrier, designed to help protect some properties from flooding. As part of the scheme, some boundary fences will also be adjusted.

Unprecedented Flooding hits South Abingdon in 2024

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The rainfall in Abingdon between Saturday 23rd November and Sunday 24th November was 48.3 mm, with the heaviest fall of 5.5 mm between 6 pm and 7 pm on Sunday.

The Vale of White Horse, where the River Ock and its tributaries converge, may have had even heavier rainfall. The flooding peaked at 1.48 meters between 3:30 AM and 9:15 AM on Tuesday, November 26th. This is higher than the flood levels of September and January. The unprecedented three floods in a year are due to climate change, where once-in-a-century events are becoming more frequent.


The flooding in Mill Paddock looks more severe than September 2024, but less severe than the January 2024 flood, which was exacerbated by the flooding of the nearby River Thames.

The road flooding in Healey Close is worse then September and January.

The flooding on Chaunterell Way appears to be as severe as it was in September.

This area, including parts of Nash Drive and Orpwood Way, is the most severely affected.

Medlicott Drive has road flooding, and some residents have sandbagged their driveways.

With Chaunterell Way flooded, this road became the only way out of the estate. To prevent water washing towards garages and houses, residents patrolled the road to slow down traffic.

On the other side of Drayton Road, there is road flooding, and possibly property flooding in Tower Close.

The River Ock has also flooded the gardens in Meadowside.

The demolition of the footbridge and construction of a wall near St. Helen’s Mill has so far protected it from flooding. However people upstream are still looking for solutions as their lives are devastated by flooding again.

River Ock Flood Warnings

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At 6:44 pm there was a flood warning for Tesco and properties close to the River Ock. It said

‘Property flooding is expected. River levels are rising steadily on the River Ock following heavy rainfall from Storm Bert. Therefore, flooding of property and roads is expected overnight 25/11/24. Peak levels could reach similar levels to those seen in January 2024. Areas most at risk are properties located on Nash Drive, Meadowside and Chaunterell Way.’

By 8:15 pm Nash Drive had road flooding and the River Ock Monitoring Station level was at 1.37 meters and continued to rise. Flooding can happen above 1.31 meters.

This is the second flood in just two months, making it even harder for people who are still recovering from the last one.

There was a second flood warning. If the level goes any higher than 1.47 meters, even more properties could be flooded. It got to 1.46 meters on 25th September 2024 and watching the graph levels, it could get near that level again.