Schemes to beat flooding will get a share of £10.5m fund (From Bicester Advertiser)

Schemes to beat flooding will get a share of £10.5m fund

9:10am Thursday 7th February 2013 in News

FLOOD alleviation schemes in Oxfordshire are set to get a share of a £10.5m pot to be spread across Thames Valley.

The Environment Agency’s Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC) has agreed a funding package for the next year.

Cash for the projects will also increase each year for the next 10 years.

The money will be raised through the county council’s share of the council tax bill from 2014/15 and will be used to deliver local projects which do not qualify for full Government funding.

The list of projects to be funded by the levy budget is being finalised and will be agreed at the end of February.

Deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council, Rodney Rose, said: “I am meeting with meeting committee members tomorrow to see how much Oxfordshire could be in line for, so we will know more next week.”

After the county’s worst flooding in five years Mr Rose warned that without serious investment many residents remained at risk during heavy downpours.

Environment Agency regional flood risk manager, Peter Quarmby, said: “It is far more cost effective to invest to reduce flood risk than it is to manage the aftermath and its economic and social consequences. This year defences prevented flooding to 35,000 homes, or 84,000 people, and delivered greater protection to 18,640 properties.”