The window of the Community Free Space in Bury Street currently has a display on ‘Reducing flood risks in Abingdon.‘ There were also experts there yesterday to listen and answer people’s questions.

Some of  the information on the display boards can be read at https://www.oxfordshirefloodtoolkit.com/contacts/abingdon-flood-alleviation-scheme/, but the information boards have more detail.

Work continues towards a flood storage area at Abingdon Common, and talks with landowners has begun. A provisional estimate for the scheme is £5m. Timescales are:

• March 2018 to March 2019 – Development of the flood storage area design and modelling. Continue to investigate complementary options.
• Spring 2019 – Planning application submission
• End 2019 – Full Business Case approval
• 2020 – Estimated construction start date subject to approvals 

You are invited to go along to a local drop-in session on Wednesday 28 March 2018 anytime from 2.30pm to 7pm. Members of the project team will be on hand to discuss flood risk reduction proposals for Abingdon and for residents to share their comments and local knowledge. The drop-in will be at: Abingdon Community Free Space, 18 Bury Street, Abingdon.

The plans will be on display in the same venue from 26 March to 1 April for those unable to attend the drop-in.

Communities in Abingdon have experienced flooding in the past. The most dramatic recent occurrence was in 2007 when over 400 properties were flooded. The Environment Agency, the Vale of White Horse and Oxfordshire Councils have been working in partnership to better understand the causes of this flooding and identify actions that could reduce the risk in the future.

They have been looking into a number of options all of which include a potential flood storage area at Abingdon Common with possible complementary measures such as natural flood management and property level resilience to further reduce flood risk.

The Environment Agency and Vale of White Horse District Council have built a flood wall at St Helen’s Mill in Abingdon. It will reduce flood risk to homes at St Helen’s Mill and help to keep the access road to the car park open.

The last picture I have of St Helen’s Mill flooding was 7th January 2014. It could now be the last.