Banbury (flood management)

Question 1

Where is Banbury?

Answer 1

Cotswold Hills, 50km north of Oxford

Question 2

List three reasons Banbury needs flood management

Answer 2

It has a history of bad flooding
In 1998, flooding cost the town £12.5 million in damage
In 2007 many more homes and businesses affected by flooding

Question 3

List seven forms of flood management at Banbury

Answer 3

In 2012, new flood defence scheme complete
2.9km earth embankment built parallel to M40 for flood storage - holds 3 million cubic litres of water
Flood storage located on natural floodplain of River Cherwell
Raising the A361 road in the flood storage area and improving drainage
New earth embankments and flood walls to protect property and business
A new pumping station to transfer excess rainwater to river below the town
Creating the biodiversity action plan habitat with ponds, trees and hedgerows to absorb and store excess water

Question 4

List three social benefits to flood management at Banbury

Answer 4

The raised road will be open during flood, reducing disruption to lives

Question 5

List 3 economic effects of flood management at Banbury

Answer 5

The cost of the scheme was around £18.5 million
Donors included Environment agency and Cherwell district council
By protecting 441 houses and 73 commercial properties, the benefits are estimated at £100 million

Question 6

List three environmental effects of flood management at Banbury

Answer 6

Around 100,000 tonnes of earth were extracted from nearby for the embankment, creating a reservoir
A new biodiversity action plan will increase biodiversity
Part of the floodplain will deliberately be allowed to flood if river levels are high