Agency error in plans for future (From The Oxford Times)

Agency error in plans for future

9:00am Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News

THE Environment Agency has admitted releasing confusing information regarding flood prevention schemes in Oxfordshire.

In January, the Oxford Mail reported that flood schemes worth £8,772,000 were set to go ahead in the county after an announcement from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.

The total figure was taken from an Environment Agency spreadsheet released annually by DEFRA. But the EA has admitted many of the schemes mentioned in the spreadsheet may never happen, because they are only at assessment stage and may not be needed.

Area flood and coastal risk manager Ian Tomes said many of the 11 schemes announced for the county were either nearing completition or having their need assessed.

He said schemes at Florence Park, Grove, Watlington, Witney, Wendlebury, Bicester and the west Thames area are at their “initial assessment” stage, and the EA couldn’t guarantee that any work would be needed in those areas. He added weirs at Iffley and Osney were being upgraded as part of routine maintenance because they had come to the end of their lives, and Godstow weir could be updated in the future if work was needed.