Witney campaigners call for maintenance work on River Windrush to prevent flooding
They say action is needed to protect homes and businesses
Last updated 15th Sep 2026
Flood campaigners in Witney are calling for maintenance work to be carried out on the River Windrush, warning that a build-up of silt and debris is increasing the risk of flooding.
The Witney Flood Group says years of silt accumulation, fallen trees and other obstructions have reduced the river’s capacity to carry water through the town.
They recently highlighted their concerns by putting up a sign on a large build-up of silt downstream of Witney’s main town bridge.
Chairman William Wareing said: “We’ve been banging on about doing clearance work for many years now.
“Our volunteers decided that enough is enough and we decided to put a sign up to basically tell everyone that the river remains in poor condition.”
Impact of flooding
For Mr Wareing, the campaign is also personal.
He has experienced flooding twice himself, including during the severe flooding which hit the area in 2007.
“After flooding, it took us two years to recover and we had a young family at the time,” he said.
Mr Wareing said some of the group’s members and volunteers continue to be directly affected, with one having experienced it three times.
He added: “It has a huge impact on people psychologically and financially, including the value of their house, the cost of insurance, and just the time it takes to recover your house and your belongings.”
Campaigners doing their own clearance work
The group's installed 11 sensors which provide water-level readings, allowing volunteers to gather data about how the river behaves during flooding.
Mr Wareing believes the issue is a combination of Witney’s geography, development on parts of the historic floodplain and a lack of river maintenance.
He said the group has held meetings with the Environment Agency and local authorities and is now working directly with some landowners to carry out lighter clearance work itself.
That includes removing logs and debris and cutting back trees which have fallen into the river.
However, Mr Wareing said larger-scale work, including removing significant quantities of silt, requires specialist equipment, planning and engineering expertise.
Calls for action
The group is now working with the area’s MP and is due to meet the Environment Agency’s Thames Area Director to discuss its concerns.
Mr Wareing said campaigners want to understand why more maintenance and enforcement work is not currently being carried out and what can be done.
A longer-term Witney Flood Alleviation Scheme is also being developed, but Mr Wareing said the group wants action in the meantime to help reduce the risk to homes and businesses.
He said even relatively small reductions in flood levels could protect some properties.
“Even if we get the level down by a few inches, it will make a huge difference to some of our neighbours, people’s homes and businesses in the area.”
Environment Agency response
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "We carry out maintenance work to help reduce flood risk in communities, including along the River Windrush and other places in Witney.
"Our maintenance programme includes managing in-channel vegetation and removing obstructions, with work normally taking place in the summer and autumn.
"The primary responsibility for maintaining watercourses rests with riparian landowners, who are expected to keep them in a condition that does not increase flood risk to neighbouring properties or land."