Flood Control: Oxfordshire

(asked on 20th March 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2019 to Question 229822 on Flood Control: Oxfordshire, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Environment Agency receives adequate funding to help prevent flooding in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.


Answered by
Thérèse Coffey Portrait
Thérèse Coffey
This question was answered on 25th March 2019

The Government invests Flood Defence Grant in Aid where it can provide the greatest benefit to people and property at risk of flooding and coastal erosion. Funding is allocated consistently across the country and the Environment Agency (EA) works in partnership to get the best value for money from Government funding. It targets national investment to reduce the risks of flooding and coastal erosion to as many people as possible, and to get the best outcome for every pound spent. The EA works with local partners including Regional Flood and Coastal Committees to take into account local needs and opportunities when deciding where to invest.

Since April 2015 the EA and its partners have spent £1.2 million to reduce flood risk in Abingdon. Some of this money has been spent on a flood wall to reduce flood risk at St. Helens Mill. Another example is the development of a plan to deploy temporary barriers to reduce the risk to over 100 properties during a flood event.

The EA also undertakes maintenance on the River Stert, Radley Park Ditch, Radley Brook, Sandford Brook and the Larkhill Stream in Abingdon to help protect people and property from flooding. This includes weed cutting, bankside vegetation control, debris removal and trash screen clearance.

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