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Call for county council to increase flood prevention activities
24/12/2024
Kieron Mallon’s motion came after recent storms flooded people’s homes
by Esme Kenney, Local Democracy Reporter
Calls for the county council to increase gully clearance after the damage caused by Storm Bert were heard at an Oxfordshire district council meeting.
Councillor Kieron Mallon, who also sits on the county council, put forward the motion, which asked the leaders of Cherwell District Council to urge the county council to “alleviate the misery” of residents by increasing their flood prevention activities, such as gully clearance.
It also called for the County Council to initiate a programme of gully clearance or other measures at known flooding hot spots after receiving severe weather warnings.
The motion was discussed at the full council meeting on Monday, December 16.
In his opening speech, Mr Mallon said: “Those of us who were out that weekend visiting constituents and residents affected by both storms were moved by what we saw.
“We have to push this back to the county council. They are the upper-tier authority in charge of this.”
Councillor Lesley McLean made an amendment to the motion, which expands the motion to flooding mitigation, and changes the wording from “misery” to “risk”, with the aim of “bring[ing] this motion back to Cherwell” rather than Oxfordshire County Council.
She said: “Flooding is not just related to gullies, but wider water management and draining systems.
“Every member knows that gully clearance on its own does not stop flooding.
“It needs a co-ordinated response which includes all agencies responsible.”
Councillor Chris Brant pointed out that the previous administration cut gully cleaning in 2020 from every two years to every four years, with only high-speed roads being cleared annually.
Conservative councillors criticised the amendment for deflecting responsibility from the county council, and for omitting the word “misery” from the motion.
Councillor Ian Middleton spoke in support of the motion, arguing that the current administration were “dealing with the fallout” of the decision.
Councillor David Hingley, leader of the council, expressed his sympathies for those affected by flooding, and affirmed that the issue was a priority for the council.
Mark Cherry stated that the amendment did not “go to the heart” of the issue, and stated that “people were being bounced back and forth” between Thames Water, the district council and the county council, because different water systems are under the control of different organisations.
The amendment fell narrowly, with 22 councillors voting for, 25 against and no abstentions.
The original motion passed unanimously.
Oxfordshire County Council announced that they plan to invest £1.5 million in improving highway drainage to help roads cope with flooding, as part of their 2025/26 Budget, which county councillors will vote on in February.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam