An appeal has been launched for volunteers across Oxfordshire to become flood wardens and help their communities better understand flood risks and local responsibilities.
Oxfordshire County Council has expanded its flood warden scheme countywide following successful pilot projects in Witney, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Abingdon and Sunningwell. The initiative is designed to strengthen local resilience as extreme weather events become increasingly common.
Flood wardens act as the “eyes and ears” of their communities, reporting issues such as blocked drains and ditches so preventative action can be taken before flooding occurs. There is no fixed time commitment, allowing volunteers to contribute according to their availability.
Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said:
“Flood wardens are our eyes and ears on the ground and report things liked blocked ditches and drains so that we can resolve these issues before a flood event can occur. As extreme weather becomes a more common occurrence, their role becomes so much more important.
“We are so grateful to all the county’s volunteers, whose hard work and local knowledge does so much to keep their communities safe. I would like to thank our existing flood wardens for their efforts and invite more people to join them in improving the situation in the places where they live.”
Flood wardens can be individual residents, parish council representatives or existing community resilience volunteers, including highway wardens and police volunteers. The council provides training and support, including an informal one-hour introductory call before volunteers formally take on the role.
William Wareing, Chairman and Trustee of the Witney Flood Group, has served as a flood warden since April 2023 and coordinates Witney’s seven-strong team.
Mr Wareing said:
“My home was flooded in 2007 and 2020. Although I have since moved to a safer location, I feel passionate about making a difference to others who are unable to move out of the high flood risk zone.
“I wanted us to establish a flood warden community through our involvement in the joint risk management agencies’ working party that formed after the 2020 floods. This is very closely tied with our charity, the Witney Flood Group, which was also formed after the 2020 floods, to help us build a community, support and educate, and make a difference to the conditions locally.
“Ultimately the flood wardens project is another piece of the puzzle in the solutions we seek to reduce the risk of flooding in the area.”
He added that wardens engage directly with residents, businesses and authorities, attend public events, and help develop community emergency flood plans.
“We engage with the community, report issues to the responsible authorities and create community emergency flood plans and keep in touch with each other and support each other. My role involves coordinating our wardens, increasing their knowledge and expertise, and making sure that specific high risk locations are the priority, and making them known to the community.
“Our flood wardens attend public events, learn about river management, hold conversations with both the responsible authorities and our residents and business owners. We held two public events in September, conducted a full survey of the River Windrush with evidence of photos, locations and identified any poor levels of maintenance we want to see improved.
“We plan to engage directly with riparian landowners next to encourage them to improve maintenance standards on land they own adjacent to a watercourse. We can also help them directly with light maintenance work and are set up for that now.
“Becoming a flood warden is about building a community, helping each other, representing and supporting those less fortunate or able to, and raising awareness of the flood risk issues we face across Oxfordshire,” he said.
“In our experience so far, people at risk of flooding are the strongest contenders for becoming flood wardens, as well as those with experience or interest in the subject.”
Residents interested in volunteering can find further details and register through the county council’s Oxfordshire flood toolkit online.
