- Engineering summary of Witney’s issues – Maps, guides, our assessment of the situation and solutions we seek are now evidenced and have been presented to all public parties responsible for flood alleviation.
- The Environment Agency – We spent half a day with an EA team in August, conducting a full site inspection of central Witney and are awaiting a follow up meeting. One of their senior representatives has since met with us, we are meeting again on 10th November, and we are hopeful of real action to come out of that. It has been confirmed that the Flood Warning threshold has been adjusted since Dec 2020.
- Oxfordshire County Council – We met councillors responsible for Flooding and the Environment, presenting evidence of flood risk and proposed solutions. We await the official Flood Report 10 months on and are maintaining pressure, demanding this critical report, which must drive future action.
- West Oxfordshire District Council and ‘Publica’ (outsourced drainage team) – We are ever present at every Environment Scrutiny Committee Meeting and have directly communicated and probed on what can and should be done. We continue to demand ownership and collaboration amongst public bodies.
- Witney Town Council – We are presenting at the November council meeting to raise the issues and actions the Town Council can perform to alleviate flooding, given the town council has planning and environmental responsibilities, as owners of the Emergency Plan (not yet seen), and as landowners.
- Tracing Landowners and Mapping – We have been acquiring land ownership documents and are drawing up maps of land adjoining the river so we can communicate directly with landowners to remind them of their responsibilities as the authorities do not currently have a joined-up approach on ownership records.
- Links with other Groups – We continue to build relationships with Councillors, and representatives of organisations and flood groups such as North Witney Action Group, Windrush Catchment Partnership, etc
- Providing Advice – We have been able to conduct site visits in areas close to and impacting Witney at times of flooding and have assisted with numerous objections to Planning Permission that we know will worsen flood risk. Councils have rather limited powers to stop building ‘progress’ – a government policy.
- What it feels like to be Us? – Our level and depth of knowledge now matches that of many of those who are responsible for Flood Risk, allowing us to become a powerful, representative action group, for You. The impact on the wellbeing of many people (including many who are vulnerable) is our greatest priority.
- Local Events: WODC are holding a Flood Fair on November 4th at the Town Centre Shop.
