"Collaboration, communication, focus"

 

The Steering Group meets about once a fortnight. Based on our local knowledge of flooding, we work to identify specific problems, to investigate them (including where necessary taking level measurements) and to propose possible solutions to the authorities. We try to get the various agencies to work together: an example of this is our suggestion of, and the establishment of, an inter-agency working party to try to come up with remedies for Earl and Duke Streets and Bullstake Close.

 

We meet regularly with the Environment Agency, putting forward suggestions and following up progress. We make representations to other authorities, including Oxford City Council, the County Council, the Oxford Area Flood Partnership and Thames Water. We arrange site visits with these authorities when necessary.

 

We have had a good deal of coverage in the Oxford Mail and Oxford Times, and have contributed to articles, and had letters published, in both newspapers. We have have been on local and national radio and television news on several occasions. We have written articles for the National Flood Forum Newslteer.

 

We keep about 100 households informed by regular email Updates. We have held Public Meetings: in March 2008 (attended by over 100 people); November 2008, and November 2009. People have expressed strong support for our efforts at these meetings.

 

We are a member of the National Flood Forum, which supports community flood groups across the country.

 

Oxford Flood Alliance was set up after the severe flooding in 2007. Run by and for local people, we want to reduce the risk of flooding in Oxford and its immediate area. We’ve put forward practical ideas; many have been adopted and are under way or already completed.

We work as cooperatively as we can with the several authorities involved with flooding and in conjunction with local politicians.

 

Support: we hold an annual public meeting each November. Over 80 people attended our most recent Annual Public Meeting in 2011. We keep people informed via an email list of well over 100 addresses and this website.

 

Flooding is an ever-present risk in poorly-defended Oxford: when the sun’s shining it’s easy to forget about flooding. But see what happened in July 2007 or March 1947. Or take a look at the flood risk calculator.

 

The Alliance is run on a day-to-day basis by a Steering Group of eight people:

Simon Collings (Osney Island)

Brain Durham (South Oxford, see below)

Mike Hamblett (Technical advice)

Nick Hills (Earl Street)

John Mastroddi (Kennington)

Peter Rawcliffe (South Hinksey)

Richard Thurston (Osney Island)

Andy Webber (Earl Street)

All the flooded areas of Oxford are part of the Alliance.We keep in touch as needs be with representatives in areas not directly represented on the Steering Group: Wolvercote (Wolvercote Commoners - Nigel Walmsley), South Oxford (South Oxford Flood Action Group - Brian Durham (on Steering Group) and David Pepper), Wytham (Kathy Day), Binsey (Alison and Steven Cobb) and Old Botley (Angela MacKeith).