After the events of July 2007 everybody who lives in Witney should be concerned about flooding. The floodplain is the most important asset in managing flood risk. The Cogges Link Road would cut across the floodplain of the River Windrush reducing the natural water storage area. This can only increase the risk of flooding of Witney.

'The floodplain is the single most important asset in managing flood risk' Environment Agency

RIVER WINDRUSH FLOODPLAIN IN WITNEY

What are flood zones?
Land has been broken down into Flood Zones which define the probability of flooding: in a particular area.

Flood Zone 1 - Low Probability
This zone comprises land assessed as having less than 1 in 1000 annual probability of river flooding in any year.

Flood Zone 2 - Medium Probability
This zone comprises land assessed as having between a 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 annual probability of river flooding.

Flood Zone 3 - High Probability
This zone comprises land assessed as having a 1 in 100 or greater annual probability of river flooding.

The Cogges Link Road would cross both Flood Zones 2 and 3, whereas Shores Green is situated in Flood Zone 1 well outside the floodplain of the River Windrush.

A key duty of the Environment Agency (EA) is to protect the floodplain. The EA objected to the previous CLR planning application in 2004 on three grounds:

1. The flood risk assessment submitted was not acceptable
2. The risk of damage to the ecology of the River Windrush
3. The information provided did not convince the EA that CLR was the only option.

Development in floodplains is controlled by Government guidance in Planning Policy Statement 25 (PPS25) - Development and Flood Risk. Click here to download

An important aim of PPS25
is to ensure flood risk is taken into account in the planning process by avoiding inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding, and to direct development away from areas at highest risk. Development within the floodplain can only increase the chances of flooding elsewhere. It is to be avoided wherever possible.

It is difficult to comment on the Oxfordshire County Council's (OCC) flood risk assessment as they have submitted the planning application without completing it. OCC's position is that the CLR will have little impact on the floodplain, even though it will reduce it by 7 acres and constrict the flow of water. What is clear is that the Shores Green alternative will have NO impact on the floodplain.

PPS25 contains the 'Sequential Test' which is designed to steer new development to areas with the lowest probability of flooding, helping local planning authorities avoid development in floodplains. The test aims to determine whether there are other, reasonably available, sites at a lower risk of flooding. If the test identifies such sites that could accommodate the proposed scheme then the planning application should be refused and the applicant should seek opportunities on the lower risk site. OCC have not carried out the Sequential Test. If they had done they would have identified the Shores Green alternative as the preferred option.

Summary
Given the catastrophic flooding last year and the advice in PPS-25 the rational of constructing a road on a 45m wide and 5m high embankment across the floodplain of the River Windrush must be in doubt. This doubt is removed with the Shores Green Alternative.