Flooding!

Thu 31 Dec 2020, 10:15 (last edited on Thu 31 Dec 2020, 10:19)

That's right, Philip, and I am having a meeting with the Director of Communities at OCC on Tuesday to discuss what we can do to change that.

Wed 30 Dec 2020, 22:20

Apparently gullies are only routinely emptied by OCC every 4 years now, so that might explain why the already blocked drains could not cope with the exceptional rainfall?

Tue 29 Dec 2020, 10:28

I went through Crawley to Witney at 9am this morning. The road is still very flooded but passable with care - single file. 

Thu 24 Dec 2020, 16:41

Lots of crossings over the Evenlode impassable this morning: A361 at Shipton closed; the road from the A361 to Ascott closed; Catsham Lane from Chadlington to the forest not closed, but not safely passable. 

Thu 24 Dec 2020, 13:25

And the B4022 is blocked at Banbury Hill Farm - recovering a vehicle from a field......

Thu 24 Dec 2020, 13:17

The road between Stonesfield and North Leigh at Ashford Bridge is still closed. About 200m of road under a foot or so of fast moving water.

Thu 24 Dec 2020, 12:16

There are a lot of reports of flooding in the usual hotspots.  Be very careful if driving out today.

Thu 24 Dec 2020, 12:01

I was in Witney by around 6.30 am. Absolutely fine but a few large puddles.

Thu 24 Dec 2020, 11:14

Is there any update on the road to Witney this morning ?

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 21:40 (last edited on Wed 23 Dec 2020, 21:40)

I thought I might’ve wished I’d read this thread before we set out for Waitrose this evening at about 5 but, having been turned round by the ‘Road  Closed’ sign just after the BP garage in Witney we went to Sainsburys in Kidlington where we enjoyed stress-free shopping. Easy access in the car park; they had everything we wanted to buy and there was no queue at the checkout!

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 17:20

I had to turn round in West end of Witney - after a circular tour of estate; only way is home!  And several large floods..

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 16:49 (last edited on Wed 23 Dec 2020, 16:50)

4.15pm update The road to Charlbury from Witney is coned off as via Hailey. Crawley is also coned off. Can get in & out of Charlbury via Burford.

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 16:32

I have never seen the drains on the Slade being cleaned. The one at the top has been solidly blocked with mud for years. I don't know why they are never maintained when others around town are cleared on a fairly regular basis.

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 15:59

Woodstock road open and all floodwater gone. But if we have more torrential rain like this morning we’ll have more episodes like this.

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 15:49

I just passed through Fawler and the house on the left in the dip opposite the phone box is surrounded by water. Fire fighters are pumping water out into the field opposite and it looked like they were trying to locate the drain whilst standing in knee deep water! 

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 14:38 (last edited on Wed 23 Dec 2020, 16:44)

So I've just done a recon (dog-walk): the puddle at the bottom of Dancers Hill/ Tanners Court has dissipated. The Slade dip flood water has also gone thanks to the contractor who has pumped the drain and the fire engine. The majority of drain grates indicate the water about a foot from ground level right now.

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 13:56

Please advise when or if the Woodstock Road is open again on way into Charlbury. Also keep the news coming re any other road closures 

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 13:23

I'm in Ticknell Piece, and 3-4 few years ago I had worse during truly torrential rain when it topped the path at the top of my drive and poured down the and flooded by garage with about 6 inches of water and washed all sorts of debris down the side.

This time it didn't top the path on the road. It may be that this time the rain was sustained for a longer period but wasn't quite so biblical.

In any event, the ground is water logged from a soggy autumn so if there is heavy rain, flooding is going to be likely I fear.

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 13:18

My daughter just managed to get back from Oxford through Stonesfield and Fawler. Fire engine still in attendance in Slade dip and cars passing through flood single file and slowly. 

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 13:08

The 2007 flooding was in the Summer.  It may not be the only reason, but we're now at the end of Autumn, when huge quantities of fallen leaves are blocking drain holes and clogging everything up.

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 13:02

Just turned back from Witney - roads impassable.

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 13:02

Has anyone been to Witney today, are the roads ok?? Thanks.

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 12:59 (last edited on Wed 23 Dec 2020, 13:01)

Steve, Ditchley Rd wasn't as bad in 2007. 

I am wondering if it has anything to do with debris left by MJK. In any case, the drains can't cope. It's presumably some of the water that has now ended up at the dip in The Slade.

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 12:56

There is a lot of deep water at the bottom of dip on the slade. There is a fire engine there. Avoid it, but if you need to pass in a car, it's single file and please drive very SLOWLY through it. I saw volunteers attending there getting soaked through in a huge spray of water, despite their indications to people to drive slowly.

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 12:54

"Ditchley Rd is a river. Never been as bad. "

2007 anybody?

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 12:37

Woodstock Road is closed at end of Stonesfield Lane.

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 12:35

Look on the bright side, Hannen.  It's the wrong time of year for locusts.

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 12:33

Well, we've had Pestilence, are about to have famine, now have flooding, what next?  Must dig out my copy of the Book of Revelations.

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 12:30

Ditchley Rd is a river. Never been as bad. 

Wed 23 Dec 2020, 11:48

The water is currently very deep at the bottom of Stonesfield lane/Woodstock Road and there’s currently a stranded car.