Residents in Abingdon faced repeated flooding, with several roads affected for the second time this year.

Homes in Chaunterell Way, Nash Drive, Orpwood Way, Medlicott Drive, and Francis Little Drive on the Ladygrove Estate have been flooded or come close to flooding, causing damage and disruption.

To mitigate the impact of flooding, local residents implemented makeshift roadblocks to prevent vehicles from splashing water into homes.

Sandbags, while useful in some cases, were insufficient to safeguard many homes as water came up through floors.

The financial burden and devastation on residents is substantial. Not to mention the worry.

Beyond the Ladygrove Estate, flooding also affected a small area of Tower Close, located on the other side of Drayton Road. (A drain expert had been called but could do nothing.)

Drayton Road was not very far from reaching tipping point and flooding properties.

The repeated flooding incidents in Abingdon highlight the need to look again at an effective flood management strategy to protect residents and their properties from the River Ock. A previous flood storage scheme was rejected as not being cost effective.

There was a flood warning for properties closest to the River Ock from Tesco to St. Helen’s Wharf on 24 September 2024 at 7:17 pm.

It said property flooding is expected. ‘River levels are rising on the River Ock as a result of very heavy rainfall yesterday. Therefore, flooding of property closest to the river is expected this evening, 24/09/24, in the Abingdon area. Areas most at risk are Nash Drive, Chaunterell Way, Mill Paddock, Orpwood Way and St Helens Mill.’

The Tesco carpark had flooded and the store closed earlier in the evening.

Residents were having an anxious wait as the water level rose during the evening. It had started to flow over into Chaunterell Way.

The water was also flowing into Nash Drive.

According to the Ock Monitoring station, the river level continued to rise after these pictures were taken at 9:30 pm …