Oxford Abingdon Road pumped out amid road closures
The county[1] council has been considering which roads should be shut and said Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is providing “high value pumping” to restrict the level of water.
There will be some high value pumping. (Image: Anna Railton)
Abingdon Road right now. Why isn’t it shut? @AndrewGant3 pic.twitter.com/f7Zm1kIPBT[2][3]
— Duncan Parkes (@duncanparkes) January 5, 2024[4]
Chipping Norton Road, Grenoble Road and Culham Bridge are among areas currently closed to transport.
But on the matter of Abingdon Road, an Oxfordshire County Council spokesman said: “With the Botley Road being closed at the railway bridge, Abingdon[6] Road provides a key strategic route into the city and, as such, decisions to close it will not be made lightly.
“Oxford’s Abingdon Road will remain open while it is still passable for vehicles.”
The road was later reopened to traffic at around 5.15pm on Friday but single lane restrictions remained in place.
Oxford’s Abingdon Road has reopened to traffic, but single lane restrictions are now in place.
Fire crews have set up equipment to pump away floodwater. Please avoid the area if you can. pic.twitter.com/WVnNSmbLQH[7]
— Oxfordshire County Council (@OxfordshireCC) January 5, 2024[8]
Abingdon Road (Image: Anna Railton)The council added: “The Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is providing high volume pumping on Abingdon Road to try to restrict the water level.
“The situation is being monitored and further action will be taken if required.”
City councillor Anna Railton, of the Hinksey Park Ward, said: “Certainly if it does get much higher around the Weirs Lane junction I don’t see how it could remain open.
Oxford City councillor Anna Railton. (Image: Oxford City Council)
“People are also frustrated with vehicles driving too fast and causing waves.”
The Labour councillor added: “There are also concerns from Chatham Road, Canning Crescent where water is really rising fast up their back gardens.
“And in Vicarage Road where we’re waiting for the Environment Agency to deploy the barrier to prevent flooding from the lake.”
City councillor Naomi Waite, of the same ward, said: “I’m pleased the high volume pump is being deployed to reduce the flooding on Abingdon Road and am supportive of efforts to keep the road open to traffic.
City councillor Naomi Waite (Image: Oxford City Council)
“However, it’s very important that cars and buses drive slowly through the affected area to ensure their movement doesn’t affect neighbouring houses.”
She continued: “Another issue in our area is people without running water or heating due to the drains being backed up.”
Botley Road in Oxford[9] was also flooded on Friday with motorists approaching the traffic lights near Seacourt Towers slowly through the water.
A section of the key road was submerged outside the McDonald’s restaurant.
Flooding on Botley Road. (Image: Ben Hardy, Newsquest)
A spokesman for the county council said: “The work being carried out on the Botley Road is part of Network Rail’s project to redevelop Oxford Station.
“However, the Environment Agency has installed flood barriers in both South Hinksey and Osney to protect local properties.”
Heavy rainfall has led to floods wreaking havoc across Oxfordshire over the last few days and continued disruption to services.
The council spokesman added: “Teams are working to address immediate issues as far as is possible.”
References
- ^ county (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
- ^ @AndrewGant3 (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/f7Zm1kIPBT (t.co)
- ^ January 5, 2024 (twitter.com)
- ^ The Oxfordshire roads currently closed due to flooding (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
- ^ Abingdon (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/WVnNSmbLQH (t.co)
- ^ January 5, 2024 (twitter.com)
- ^ Oxford (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)