IT’S quite apt that the first agreed sum of money for the long-awaited Western Conveyance scheme was announced as the heavens opened.

As the torrential rain flooded roads across Oxfordshire, the memories of the recent disruption were all too familiar.

It showed again just how vulnerable the county is when it comes to extreme weather and how prone we are to flooding.

Of course it’s great that the committee, which puts forward recommendations for flood project funding, has agreed that we should get £12m for the scheme.

But it’s a mere drop in the ocean with the overall project costing £125m.

The announcement quite rightly received a cautious welcome from the county council and MPs. They, like many, know there is a long way to go to get the rest of the money.

There are still a number of obstacles we need to overcome and it may be years before we finally get the rest of the money and work can actually start on the channel.

But at least it’s now on the agenda and let’s hope that with a figure now on the table it will urge the Government to realise just how important it is and invest the rest of the funds needed.