Floods — 'we're prepared'

8:06pm Friday 18th January 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Armed and ready for anything, homeowners say they are as prepared as they can be for flood water which could soon pour into their homes.

Water pumps were called into action for the first time in Oxford today - but the Environment Agency predicted no properties would flood in the city.

By last night, no homes in Oxford had succumbed to floodwater from the rising River Thames or Bulstake Stream.

Teresa Puttock, 49, of Bullstake Close, said: "We are well prepared. The authorities have been very good with sandbags and barriers and they have kept the water from coming in."

Teo Astone, 71, of Duke Street, said: "We are more prepared this time but that will not stop it coming in. We have already got water coming in under the floor boards and it could be in my house by tomorrow."

The agency said the Thames had risen by three inches in 24 hours, but insisted today's rainfall and more rain due tomorrow was not expected to have a "significant" impact on water levels in the river.

Sara Heron, from the agency, said: "No property flooding is currently expected, but we continue to monitor the situation closely as extra rain is forecast over the next few days."

However, a multi-agency task force continued to take precautions. Yesterday morning, Oxford City Council began pumping water from Bullstake Close into drains in Botley Road. Water from the swollen Bulstake Stream threatened other properties in the road, but two ranks of tarpaulin and sandbag barriers stood firm.

In Abingdon, elderly people in the town's almshouses were also on high alert, with 20 residents living a few metres from the river.

Warden Ruth Lee said: "We are well prepared and have evacuation procedures in place. We have sandbags all ready."

Terry Webb, 37, of Ock Street, Abingdon, said: "We are as prepared as we can be."

Pensioner Iris Jones, of Cygnet Close, Abingdon, said she had stocked up on extra food.

A temporary flood barrier was erected at the Kennington Road exit of the A34, and the road was closed at the Upper Road junction yesterday morning. Five pumps remained on standby in west Oxford.

Assistant chief fire officer Dave Etheridge said that although the River Thames would continue to rise, it was still expected to have a high enough capacity to prevent flooding in Osney Island. He said: "We are more optimistic now than we were 24 hours ago."