Flood cash 'too little, too late'
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| Abingdon Road residents with Richard Hooper's flood barrier |
FAMILIES living in fear of flooding have said a £95,000 investment in flood improvements by South Oxfordshire District Council is "too little, too late".
Ten areas, including Ladygrove and Abingdon Road in Didcot, East Hagbourne and Clifton Hampden, have been earmarked by the council for flood prevention improvements over the next year.
Homeowners welcomed the news, but said they were frustrated it had taken so long for the problems to be sorted out.
Residents in Abingdon Road, Didcot, saw water rising at their front doors when a rainstorm filled nearby ditches and streams two weeks ago.
Former town councillor and Abingdon Road resident Nick Hards, 57, said: "We're at our wits' end. We got water lapping up the wall of our garage and there wasn't anything we could do about it."
Mr Hards welcomed the investment, but added: "The £95,000 probably isn't enough. We had a meeting with the council 10 years ago, so it is certainly too little too late.
"The situation has got worse in that time and there needs to be a better understanding of what is going on."
Neighbour Richard Hooper, 56, has built his own flood barrier to keep the water from his door, but said it shouldn't have been his responsibility.
The district council said the causes of localised flooding were complex and it did not want to rush into improvement measures without proper investigation.
It plans to clear ditches and culverts on the Ladygrove estate, and work with landowners around Abingdon Road to find the best solution to the problems.
6:11pm Wednesday 26th March 2008
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