Flooding in Oxfordshire - latest

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Cleaning up

While water levels in some areas remain high, recovery operations are starting in areas where levels are dropping. Local councils, the fire service, the police and the Environment Agency are turning their attention to helping residents in the clean-up.

In the coming days we will be collecting unused sandbags, including those that were set up as flood defences but did not come into contact with floodwater. Your district council will be issuing advice on safe disposal of sandbags.

If you have property that has been damaged by floodwater, contact your insurer for advice before disposing of anything. Our recovering from flooding page covers subjects such as how to clean up safely and avoid rogue traders who might offer repairs. Also see the Environment Agency website.

Even though the floodwaters are receding, please report any flooding incident to the county council on highwayenquiries@oxfordshire.gov.uk or 0845 310 1111. This helps us keep records of flooded areas and build up a profile of how county is being affected.

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Sandbags and protecting your property

All property owners in flood risk areas are urged to take action to protect property from flooding. 

Sandbags and other flood defence measures are available from builders merchants and DIY outlets. For more information, including contact details for your local district council, visit our sandbags page.

The fire service and highways team used around 6,000 sandbags to protect vulnerable areas and people. We cannot deliver sandbags to individual households, except to known vulnerable people who require assistance.

However, a number of sandbag collection sites have been set up around the county so residents can create their own flood defences if necessary. The information below is taken from West Oxfordshire District Council, Oxford City Council and South Oxfordshire District's Council's websites:

View Sandbag collection sites in a larger map.

We will be collecting unused sandbags (i.e those that have not come into contact with floodwater) over the coming days. Contact your district council about safe disposal of sandbags that have come into contact with floodwater.

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Older and disabled people

If you are an older or disabled person who is worried about coping if your home floods, please call 08081 685 082. You can also use this number to report concerns about an older or disabled neighbour or if you are a care service provider reporting a problem related to flooding.

Social services is prepared in case care homes in Oxfordshire are flooded. We are working with all the care homes to make sure that people have a safe place to go if they have to be moved.

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Flood alerts and warnings

Check the Environment Agency flood warning web pages for current flood alerts and warnings. Their Twitter feed is also a useful source of information.

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Roads

All roads that were closed due to flooding have now reopened.

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Affected council buildings and services

Schools

Should at any stage any school decide that a school closure is required, that school would update the local media and we would update our school closures page. Parents should check local radio stations for information.

The Mill, Banbury

Banbury's arts centre, The Mill, is set to reopen on 4 December after flooding to part of the ground floor resulted in the closure of the building.

A team including centre staff and volunteers, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Cherwell District Council began work to safeguard the building and limit any damage on Thursday 22 November. Cleaners are now working to dry out and clean the affected areas.

County Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Cabinet member for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: “The efforts of a number of people mean that the Mill is well on the way to reopening. I would like to thank all those involved who went to great efforts to tackle the problems.”

Planned classes and events will restart as scheduled on 4 December. Anyone with tickets for performances due to have taken place during the closure are being contacted. Anyone with an enquiry who has yet to be contacted can email rosalind.templeman@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

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Fire and Rescue Service remain ready

Fire and Rescue command structures remain in place to support agencies in mitigating the potential flood risk to properties based on the flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency.