06/11/12…New powers to help tackle flood risks

NEW powers to help deal with the potential risk of flooding in the district have been adopted by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils.

Last month the two councils agreed to take on three key powers acting on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council. These powers are from the Flood and Water Management Act (2010) which was brought in following the floods in 2007.

As a result of this transfer, the two councils are now responsible for:

* giving consent to people who put in structures in
streams and ditches (like bridges or pipes),
* taking appropriate action to make sure landowners
carry out their duties to maintain water flows,
* investigating the cause of flooding events in their
respective districts and making recommendations to
alleviate future risk

Today, in a joint press release, the two councils stated: “This work is not totally new to the district councils as we already have more than 40 years experience in dealing with flooding events, investigation and enforcement, including during and after the widespread flooding in 2007. The new powers will guarantee the continuation of the good work that has happened in helping to identify and alleviate potential flood risks over the last few years, and will also help to provide a more local approach to granting permission for structures such as bridges and piping which are designed to minimise the risk of them causing or exacerbating flooding.”

The transfer of powers from OCC could also potentially save the two district councils a combined sum of around