This evening at Preston Road Community Centre the Ock Valley Flood Group had their annual open meeting, and there was a good turnout.
Nichola Blackwood, MP, spoke about getting a good deal from insurers for houses at risk of flooding. Ian Hudspeth, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, spoke about better joined up thinking in response to floods. Malcolm Moore presented a scheme about tree planting in the areas above Abingdon to stop water coming down all at once. More of that soon.
A man from the Environment Agency said that in the case of Abingdon a number of measures working together will reduce the risk of flooding, such as: his own men’s work, and the work of the Ock Valley Flood group (seen above) helping clear our rivers and ditches; such as better agricultural methods upstream – how fields are ploughed; and better tree planting.
Ock Valley Flood group volunteers will be back out in action in 2 weeks time. They clear rivers and ditches during the 2nd Saturday of each month.