Oxfordshire Grapples with Widespread Flooding; Resident Expresses Distress

Widespread flooding in Oxfordshire has led a man, whose property has been inundated for the second time in recent months, to express that he feels “frazzled” and “frustrated.” Specifically, Keith Underwood’s residence, situated on Dart Drive in Didcot, was left partially submerged in the aftermath of Storm Bert. According to Oxfordshire County Council, numerous schools across various areas, such as Banbury, East Hanney, and Abingdon, experienced impacts from the floodwater. The Mill Arts Centre in Banbury also sustained significant impact from the weather conditions, having only fully re-opened in October following previous flood damage earlier this year. The Environment Agency (EA) has issued a total of 22 flood warnings throughout the county, advising residents to prepare as river levels experienced a sharp increase overnight. Among the locations impacted are Kidlington, Steventon, Sutton Courtny, Abingdon, Witney, Carterton, and Banbury. A considerable number of roads remain impassable, and Great Western Railway (GWR) recommends that passengers consult its website prior to traveling on several important routes traversing Oxfordshire. Mr. Underwood, whose residence was previously flooded during heavy rainfall in September, stated: “We’ve been in rented accommodation for about a fortnight, and in about a weeks time we should’ve got the green light [to move back home] because it would have dried out.” He further explained that he and his wife are now “back to square one” after their property experienced another flood early this morning, which has left him feeling “frazzled.” He commented: “The only good news is there’s nothing else damaged, because there’s nothing left to be damaged on the ground floor.” He also added: “I’ve gone from being nonplussed, transitioned through anger and spitting feathers to now thinking I’m now fired up to have a fight [with the relevant authorities].” Concurrently, at the other end of the county, The Mill Arts Centre in Banbury has been compelled to close its doors until Wednesday because of the flooding. In an official statement, the venue declared: “Like many in the local area, we have unfortunately been affected by the recent flooding.” It further stated: “All activities taking place in the building today and tomorrow will be cancelled.” The statement also indicated that ticket holders who are affected would be contacted, and that the situation would be “assessed” once the water levels have receded. The venue’s auditorium had previously been forced to close in February after floodwaters inflicted damage upon its stage and floor. During the period of repair work, the theatre temporarily moved its performances to the indoor bowls facility located at Woodgreen Leisure Centre. Its full reopening occurred at the beginning of October. The Tesco Extra store in Abingdon, which had already experienced significant impact from other heavy rainfall events earlier this year, has also been compelled to close its doors because of the escalating water levels. Earlier today, Councillor Liam Walker, who serves as the deputy leader of the Conservative Group at Oxfordshire County Council, remarked: “Storm Bert has given us a bit of a battering.” He added: “Roads in a lot of places that were under water have never been under water before.” He also mentioned that the increasing water levels necessitated several residents in Witney evacuating their homes on Sunday. Over the weekend, yellow warnings for wind and rain were active across the southern region, resulting in the cancellation of dozens of events due to the prevailing weather conditions. For updates, BBC Oxfordshire can be followed on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.