THE £125m flood relief channel to help protect Oxford has moved a step closer today with £12m funding proposal agreed. 

Seen as a key scheme to relieve flooding issues, the Western Conveyance has long been called for by Oxfordshire's council leaders and MPs. 

Today the Thames Regional and Coastal Flood Committee has agreed the scheme should get £12m funding and it has recommended projects that should be included in a six-year plan of flood relief projects. 

However the recommendation will now need to be considered by the Government and the Environment Agency before any final decisions are taken.

Councillor Rodney Rose, the deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council, represents the county on the committee.

He said: “This is clearly very good news but it must be stressed that this is far from a definitive and final decision. Further obstacles need to be cleared before we can say for certain that this project will happen at some point in future years.

“I will continue to press the case for this scheme and following our successful flood summit in March I know I enjoy the support of an array of local organisations in doing that.

“This winter’s flooding in Oxfordshire and elsewhere in England may have passed, but this is proof that we continue to try to make sure flood relief work in Oxfordshire remains at the top of everyone’s agenda.”