Last chance to save Hinksey Meadows

The revised planning application for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme is now LIVE and open for comments until 17th April 2023. 

The response to the previous consultation a year ago showed 91% objecting to the experimental channel. But the revised flood scheme still contains the destructive and ineffective 3 mile channel putting the whole 7 acres of rare meadow under threat.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO SAVE HINKSEY MEADOW: 

1. Respond to the planning application 

either by email to Matthew.Case@Oxfordshire.gov.uk

or online: Planning Register | Oxfordshire County Council

Your comments only need to be a few sentences to say clearly that you OBJECT to the destructive channel, giving your reasons (see below for details)

Experts and campaigners have analysed over 400 documents and there are still major problems including: 

• Major errors with the hydrological modelling and data
• Permanent damage to biodiversity notably the irreplaceable habitat of Hinksey Meadows
• No realistic plan to ‘mitigate’ biodiversity loss which would be exported elsewhere
• Waste of public money with EA’s own figures revealing “no channel” option provides significant flood protection, and avoids almost all the damage and disruption
• Lack of information about maintenance of scheme
• 240 HGV movements per day increasing congestion on the A34
• Loss of public access for nearly 5 years and some public spaces lost forever
• Over all the scheme plans to excavate 450,000 cubic tonnes of soil and gravel,
• 133 acres of greenbelt, thousands of trees, miles of hedgerow and most of Willow Walk would be lost.

To find out more: 

See the Oxford Flood and Environment Group website. 

Come along to the Public Meeting Oxford Town Hall Assembly rooms on 17th April 2023 at 7pm

PLEASE NOTE: responses received beyond the 17th April deadline will still count, in case you would like to wait until after the public meeting to put in your objection.   

​2. Bid for a painting of Hinskey Meadows by renowned local artist Elaine Kazimierczuk and help to raise funds for the campaign to save the meadows,

Acclaimed environmental artist Elaine Kazimierczuk has donated a beautiful landscape of Hinksey Meadows, which is being auctioned to support its preservation.  

“I want future generations to continue to enjoy our natural heritage. I hope my work will encourage others to make an emotional connection, as I do, to these precious places, one which inspires us to value and protect the natural world,”

“We need to celebrate these unique habitats that are the last of their kind in the wild before it’s too late.”

You can watch Elaine’s video here 

You can bid online now for Elaine’s painting and other items including rare prints by Miro, Chagall, one of a kind experiences and many more! 

The results will be announced at a live-streamed public meeting at the Assembly Rooms, Oxford Town Hall on 17th April 2023 at 7pm. 

Together we can save Hinksey Meadow!

Please share widely with family and friends, neighbours and colleagues. 

Thank you for taking action.

Evelyn

on behalf of  the Oxford Flood and Environment Group