A £42m cash boost is set to make a proposed flood relief channel through the city a reality.

The Western Conveyance scheme will run from the area around Seacourt park-and-ride off Botley Road to the River Thames at Sandford Lock, and would divert water away from Oxford.

The Government funding, allocated to six of the “most at risk” areas in the country, means there is now £118m committed to the £125m scheme.

With £38m already confirmed from the Environment Agency, £26m awarded to Oxford Local Enterprise Partnership by Government and £12m from the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee – a body made up of councils in the Thames basin area – it is now believed with this extra cash boost there is enough money to start the project.

Our top stories

City council leader Bob Price said: “It will provide long-term defence against the flood damage we’ve seen over the last few years on an increasing basis.

“We’ve got enough to go forward now because the balance will be found by Network Rail, Thames Water and local authorities.”

In January, Abingdon and Botley Roads were shut as severe flooding hit the city.

The city also fell foul to the elements at the hands of flooding in 2007 and 2013.

Oxfordshire County Council deputy leader Rodney Rose said: “It looks like we are going to be successful now. It’s what we were hoping for. Let’s get cracking and speed up getting it done.”

He said designs were being honed.

He added: “Working out how exactly it will work and other bits and pieces will have about a two-year time span and it’s meant to be completed in six years.”

The announcement comes as part of the Government’s National Infrastruc-ture Plan which will see £2.3billion invested in flood defences nationwide.

thisisoxfordshire:

Oxford Flood Alliance chairman Peter Rawcliffe, above, said: “If this is new money then it’s extremely welcome and will be extremely well spent if the scheme goes ahead.

“The channel is so important. We are already experiencing flooding regularly and, with expected climate change, if nothing is done it’s going to be catastrophic.

“Oxford is very vulnerable. It’s the meeting point of seven rivers. The question shouldn’t be whether we can afford to do it, but whether we can afford not to.”

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander announced more than 1,400 flood defence projects nationally to provide better protection for 300,000 homes across the country.

He said: “We all saw the destruction and heartache caused by flooding last year and that is why this investment is vital to build Britain’s defences for the future.

“The projects we are announcing today will protect some of the country’s most at risk locations ensuring that we will be as prepared as possible for future severe weather.”

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.