Help stop the flood channel & save Hinksey Meadow
The massive broadening of the stream (what the Environment Agency call the second stage channel) is the most costly, least effective and most environmentally destructive part of the flood scheme.
We need to raise over £50,000 to get legal representation to fight this scheme in court: to date, our campaign has succeeded in securing a public inquiry relating to the Compulsory Purchase Orders on parts of the meadows. We need to be represented by good lawyers.
OUR OBJECTIONS TO THE EXCAVATION
Ecological damage
3780 mature trees will be removed prior to the excavation. However, tree planting cannot be included around the new channel. Rare flood meadows, natural watercourses and hedgerows will be destroyed. This biodiverse and beautiful area, home to so many plants, insects, birds and animals will become unrecognisable.
A flood prevention scheme on the River Tone in Taunton carried out in 2022 by the Environment Agency resulted in a huge 250m area stripped of trees. Here is what the area looked like before the Environment Agency's flood prevention scheme:
and after:
The scheme planned for Oxford's greenbelt will involve removing 14 times this area of trees. It will take between 40-80 years for the wildlife to recover. Recent research shows that vast stores of carbon are released when ancient flood meadow is excavated, and that fish don't thrive without shade and mature root systems.
Social Impact
The loss of green space, amenity and welfare will be significant. Access to the meadows will be severely limited for the next five years.
There will be 30,000 heavy vehicle movements each with large carbon footprints.
Poor Value for Money
Cheaper more ecological alternatives to the channel have been proposed to Oxford City Council and the Environment Agency by Oxford engineers.
- The EA have spent tens of thousands of pounds on PR to persuade Oxford residents that they are building a “nature reserve”.
DONATE NOW
Or.... spread the word! This is equally valuable!
So if you can't donate, please share this fundraiser and the links below with your contacts via email, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram etc:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
