Transport services and schools disrupted as county hit with ‘exceptional’ rainfall

Oxford experienced its highest rainfall total in more than 50 years as areas across the county were underwater.

This is according to the University of Oxford’s Radcliffe Meteorological Station, which recorded 77.1mm of rainfall between 9am on Sunday (September 22) and 9am yesterday (September 23). 

According to the station, this is the fourth highest daily precipitation total ever in Oxford and the highest in 56 years, since July 10 1968.

As the amber weather warning was in place all day, cars were seen struggling to drive along flooded roads and more than 10 schools were forced to close. 

Transport services across the county experienced high levels of disruption and Banbury Bus Station was flooded. 

Banbury Bus Station was flooded (Image: Kelly Cowley) Several car park in the city were left unusable, including Booker Wholesale in Ferry Hinksey Road in Osney Mead, which was left resembling more of a swimming pool than a car park with a few vehicles left parked at the far ends away from the large pools of water.

READ MORE: Banbury MP urges Thames Water to take action amid flooding

Osney Mead also experienced severe flooding earlier this year which resulted in staff members being forced to work from home. 

Underpasses as well as some walkways were rendered unpassable for pedestrians and cyclists.

One of the worst affected was the one on the Kennington to Oxford route which had standing water at roughly half a meter deep.

“Be careful, the underpass on the Kennington to Oxford route is really badly flooded,” warned one resident, who asked not to be named. 

The Rose Hill to Littlemore underpass was also left flooded from the heavy downpours but the water was not quite as deep at the walkway on the Kennington route.

Woodstock Surgery was advised to close over safety concerns after the roof reportedly fell in and Bucknell, a village near Bicester, was hit badly by the flooding.

Flooding in Bucknell (Image: Janine Quibell) Janine Quibell initially experienced flooding in her garden which then seeped into her house. 

When her garden flooded she told the Oxford Mail: “I can’t get to the back yet as it’s pretty deep. This keeps happening year in year out.

“Drains are overflowing again and not coping with the amount of rain.” 

Oxford City Council said the rainfall Oxford experienced was “exceptional”. 

READ MORE: Multiple houses burgled in Chinnor believed to be linked

Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, said she was “concerned” about the flooding.

She said in a statement: “I am very concerned about the flooding in Oxford today. I know that ODS are working hard to help those in greatest need of assistance.”

Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East, also said she she was “very concerned” about the flooding and the impacting it was having on local residents, schools and businesses.

She went on to thank Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, the Environment Agency and emergency workers who dealt with the flooding, urging people to “stay safe”. 

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