Abingdon
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Left defenceless
THE GOVERNMENT is unlikely to fund major flood prevention work in Abingdon in the near future.
The Environment Agency admitted this week that its preferred options for preventing a repeat of last July's floods do not meet national funding criteria.
According to the EA, 433 residential properties and 21 businesses in the town were flooded by the River Ock last summer.
More than a year on, 43 families have still not returned to their homes.
But the EA said this week that it is not even bothering to apply for money to fund the schemes it believes would best protect the town - because it knows the Government would flatly refuse the request.
Residents say it "beggars belief" that the town is not regarded as a high enough priority.
The EA has proposed building walls and embankments along the River Ock, creating flood storage areas upstream of the town and also knocking down the disused St Helen's Mill Bridge.
The agency's preferred options would cost between £3m and £3.5m to implement.
Environment Agency officer Jed Ramsay admitted this week: "It's a priority for our office, but I guess nationally it's quite low on the list.
"At the moment the money comes from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and we can't get funding as we are slightly below the threshold."
The 'threshold' is the benefit-to-cost ratio of any flood prevention scheme. Currently the EA's two favourite Abingdon options score 4.1 and 4.7.
The agency does not apply for Government funding when the score is below five.
The EA has not ruled out making a bid for Defra funding for its preferred options at some point in the the future, although it would not be drawn on when this might be.
However, it did reveal that a major flood relief channel for the town is a long-term possibility - if the proposed £1bn reservoir between Abingdon and Wantage is built.
The reservoir, which would be built on farmland between Drayton and East and West Hanney, would be half the size of Lake Windermere. If approved, it is unlikely to be completed before 2020.
Malcolm Moor, of South Abingdon Floodplain Action Group, said: "The scoring system means we don't get funding.
"Places like Tewkesbury and Hull are very high up - but Abingdon is very important as the floods affected the whole of the town."
Town councillor Samantha Bowring, who was flooded out of her home in Turberville Close, insisted that the work should be funded.
She said: "It's a great deal of concern. I know the Environment Agency had its funding cut, but it beggars belief if you think of all the places that have been flooded.
"I really think the Government should make the money available.
"We are talking about millions of pounds, but in the grand scheme of things it is not that much. So many homes, businesses and farms are bearing the costs which far outweigh the cost of the Government funding the scheme."
Town councillor Tim Oates said: "A scoring system is used and we are lower than places like Tewkesbury, which was badly affected and obviously is deserving of priority, but that doesn't make residents in the affected areas feel better.
"It's a priority matter and it should be high up on the Government's radar and more money should be allocated."
Despite the fact that the EA is not submitting a bid for funding for its flood prevention options, it is still planning to consult the public on these options.
It is expected that the public consultation will start in the next three months.
1:00pm Wednesday 30th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Adrian, Didcot on 4:06pm Wed 30 Jul 08
An awful lot of Abingdon was affected, I was dropping off friends there as the police were closing off roads. By the time I got out the only route home was via a northern exit onto the A34. I went in the next day only to not get in. A wide area had very bad flooding, but it doesn't count? Got off lightly myself with just water bubbling up through the downstairs toilet!
Nice to see our elected high taxing government refusing to look after its people again, at this rate they'll likely get no returned candidates come the next election. (but will the next bunch know or care why?)
An awful lot of Abingdon was affected, I was dropping off friends there as the police were closing off roads. By the time I got out the only route home was via a northern exit onto the A34. I went in the next day only to not get in. A wide area had very bad flooding, but it doesn't count? Got off lightly myself with just water bubbling up through the downstairs toilet!
Nice to see our elected high taxing government refusing to look after its people again, at this rate they'll likely get no returned candidates come the next election. (but will the next bunch know or care why?)
Posted by: Cy Nic, Abingdon on 8:53pm Wed 30 Jul 08
I cannot be surprised about this, South Abingdon has always been the poor relation when compared to North Abingdon, and not enough moneyed people with any real power and say live south of Ock Street or the River Ock. So the peasantry will just have to grin and bear the situation as it always has, so there! Not so much a 'Tale of two Cities' more a 'Tale of Two Towns' The poverty-struck can 'go drown' when it rains!
I cannot be surprised about this, South Abingdon has always been the poor relation when compared to North Abingdon, and not enough moneyed people with any real power and say live south of Ock Street or the River Ock. So the peasantry will just have to grin and bear the situation as it always has, so there! Not so much a 'Tale of two Cities' more a 'Tale of Two Towns' The poverty-struck can 'go drown' when it rains!
Posted by: Mr. Sensible, Abingdon on 8:30am Thu 31 Jul 08
It's worth noting that the Abits Scheme cost approximately £3m. Given the choice I know where I would have spent the £3m.
It's worth noting that the Abits Scheme cost approximately £3m. Given the choice I know where I would have spent the £3m.
Posted by: Neil Fawcett, Abingdon on 2:08pm Thu 31 Jul 08
We were flooded and out of our house for nearly a year. They are still finishing off the work on the house - we only got running water back in the kitchen yesterday.
The overall costs to all the people that were flooded - when you add up temporary accommodation, refurbishment, new kitchens, floors etc., it is probably into seven figures.
If it is the case that there is not enough funding for Abingdon it is simply a demonstration that the Government is not putting nearly enough money in overall.
We were flooded and out of our house for nearly a year. They are still finishing off the work on the house - we only got running water back in the kitchen yesterday.
The overall costs to all the people that were flooded - when you add up temporary accommodation, refurbishment, new kitchens, floors etc., it is probably into seven figures.
If it is the case that there is not enough funding for Abingdon it is simply a demonstration that the Government is not putting nearly enough money in overall.
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