THOUSANDS of pounds worth of work to prevent flooding in Witney has been finished, in place of a multi-million-pound project.

In June last year, the Environmental Agency said it would not implement a £3.7m scheme involving storage ponds, which some claimed would ease flooding in the area, as it did not meet its criteria.

Instead, West Oxfordshire District Council has spent £107,000 on works to lessen flooding in Eastfield Road, near to where teenager Max Sullivan-Webb, also known as Max Weeden, died.

Flood guards have been given to 10 residents, along with heightening grass verges and reshaping the village green to direct floodwater away from homes.

David Harvey, the district council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “Like all of our residents who have experienced flooding, those in Eastfield Road have been through some really tough times in recent years and we hope that this work will help to provide protection, and some peace of mind, for those whose homes are most at risk.

“Our council has taken the problem of flooding extremely seriously and work has been ongoing since the terrible floods of July 2007 to secure and carry out as much flood protection work as possible in the affected areas.”

The 10 households are among homes most at risk from flooding in Eastfield Road and have received flood guards to fit at their doorways and entrances. When there is a flooding risk, these can be fitted to frames already on doors.

Emma Willis, who lives in one of the properties where flood guards have been fitted, said: “The house flooded in 2007, but luckily I wasn’t living here at the time.

“I’ve got four children and it is really worrying – every time it rains for a long time I start to panic.

“The flood guards have given us some reassurance and a bit more peace of mind. I hope we won’t have to use them, but if it does look like it’s going to flood they seem sturdy and look like they’ll keep the water out.”

The 10 guards, which cost £57,000, have been funded by a Government flood protection grant, secured by the council.

Eastfield Road is classed as a high-risk area and was one of the worst affected areas in west Oxfordshire.

Max, 17, died in June 2008, when his foot became stuck in a culvert during a flash flood as he played in fields off Eastfield Road.

Following this, the EA commissioned a £50,000 feasibility study to look at different options to prevent flooding.

Large-scale upstream flood storage areas, which retain water during times of high rainfall, were found to provide the best solution. However, the benefits were not deemed to be worth the expense.

This month, work costing £114,000 will start on fitting flood guards at 20 homes in Bampton.

The council has also gained a further £57,000 from the Environment Agency tow- ards flood guards for 10 properties in Asthall. Work will be carried out by March 2011.