Category Archives: flood

MGs on Boxing Day Run, and Rivers Flooding

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MG Cars gathered on the Market Place this morning from about 9:30.

There was also a Bull Nose Morris.

They met for the 20th annual Boxing Day Run organised by the Abingdon MG Works Centre.

They then set off round the one way system and across Abingdon Bridge into South Oxfordshire.

The River Thames is running fairly high so some walks are only passable with wellington boots and care.

The Ock Valley Walk is now flooded near the town centre. Comments yesterday from the Ladygrove Estate said “Floodwater from the Ock lapping at the back fences of Orpwood Way.”

Flood Barrier Erected on Christmas Eve

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A flood barrier with sandbags was erected next to St Helen’s Mill in Abingdon this afternoon. There has been a lot of rain over recent days. Light showers are expected on Christmas Day.

Last year over Christmas the Ock Valley walk was closed because of flooding. The water was swilling over the driveway at St Helen’s Mill.

Flood Fair

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The Town Council is organising a “Flood Fair” to be held at the Guildhall on Thursday 24th October 2013 from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Flooding has been a problem in the town in the past, and with the winter approaching the Town Council are organising an event at which people will be able to find out “What You Can Do In The Event Of A Flood.”

At the Flood Fair they are bringing together a number of organisations who can give people practical advice on how to prepare for flooding and how to protect your property.”

These pictures were taken during the floods in July 2007 – an exceptional event that affected a large number of properties in Abingdon.

As well as the practical measures individual property owners can take there is still the need to work together – like the Ock Valley Flood Group, and to campaign for better flood defences for Abingdon – like the South Abingdon Flood Action Group.

Would more trees reduce the risk of floods in Abingdon?

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Hydraulic Roughness
SAFAG (The South Abingdon Flood Action Group) were founded in or around 2000 to campaign to stop development on the flood plain near Tesco. Since then SAFAG produced a plan to protect the Ock Valley from future development by turning it into a nature reserve, and just this month have produced a new study on flood prevention using tree planting.
Hydraulic Roughness
The Vale of White Horse is the catchment area of the River Ock, and after a deluge all the water can arrive at Abingdon in a torrent. The SAFAG study suggests that land management can help to reduce the peak flow of the river during extreme storms by delaying the arrival of storm water at Abingdon. Measures to achieve this can include strategic tree planting and woodland management along the river corridor. The full study can be a read here or by visiting the SAFAG Website.