Some of our residents may recall the Chil Brook flooding areas of Barnard Gate, just outside Eynsham, when Storm Bert hit the UK in November 2024.
Oxfordshire County Council was required to complete a formal investigation of the incident as five properties were flooded at this time.
The Flood Investigation Report is now complete and has been published on their website. Residents can view it here: Flood Investigation Reports - Oxfordshire Flood Toolkit
In summary, the report finds that the flood was caused by the prolonged and intense period of rainfall during the storm, when the area saw 80-110% of the average monthly rainfall in just three days.
The old A40 bridge acted as a pinch point, allowing the Chil Brook water levels to rise and spread across the adjacent floodplain, eventually reaching five properties in the vicinity.
There are a number of recommendations for ensuring this does not re-occur. These include improving the Thames Water pumping station, exploring longer-term flood mitigation options and boosting property resilience.
Residents may like to sign up to the Environment Agency Flood Alerts to ensure they have some warning of potential issues. There is also an opportunity to explore grant funding to help boost the flood resilience of our community.
Read the full report here: Section 19 Flood Investigation Report