Councils adopt new powers for flooding (From Bicester Advertiser)
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Councils adopt new powers for flooding
10:30am Thursday 8th November 2012 in News
NEW powers for dealing with flooding have been adopted by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils.
The two councils are now responsible for giving consent to people who put bridges or pipes in streams and ditches.
They will also ensure landowners carry out their duties to maintain waterways, investigate the causes of flooding and make recommendations to reduce future risk.
It is hoped the transfer of powers from Oxfordshire County Council will save the district councils a combined £10,000 a year.
Judith Nimmo-Smith, cabinet member for economic development and property at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “This transfer of power represents a logical common sense approach. “It will save money and will reduce the amount of bureaucracy involved when a landowner or resident is concerned about a flood risk.”
