An independent review of the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, commissioned by Vale of White Horse District Council, has confirmed it will have no impact on communities downstream in the Vale or South Oxfordshire.
The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme will be approximately three-miles long and will run from the north of Botley Road in Oxford to re-join the River Thames near Kennington.
The scheme will reduce the risk of flooding from the River Thames to all homes and businesses in Oxford, as well as to services and major transport routes into the city, particularly around Botley Road and Abingdon Road.
This will help avoid a repeat of the disruption and damage caused by floods in 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Communities 'downstream' were concerned that the Oxford scheme would increase their flood risk.
In 2016 the Environment Agency produced technical modelling using sophisticated computer programmes which showed that the scheme would not change flood risk of communities downstream. As with all Environment Agency modelling this was independently checked.
In 2017, due to local concerns, the Vale of White Horse District Council commissioned independent expert Water Resource Associates, to further review the work carried out by the Environment Agency.
This independent review confirms that the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme will not put communities 'downstream' at any greater risk of flooding.
