Silt build-up removal brings river to normal level

Workers used a crane to lift and remove the silt

About 6,000kg (13,227lbs) of silt has been collected at a base of a bridge in order to reduce blockages, a council has said.

Witney Town Council said the work at Bridge Street had been carried out by a crane "to carefully lift and remove the built-up silt, bringing the riverbed back down to its natural level".

The local authority added that although it was not responsible for that part of the River Windrush, it chose to partner with Witney Flood Group "to help tackle a long-standing issue affecting local residents".

The Environment Agency (EA) said the process mattered as it could "ensure the structures operate effectively".

Witney Town Council said it chose to partner with Witney Flood Group "to help tackle a long-standing issue affecting local residents"

The town is set to receive a £20,000 in government funding towards flood defences.

That follows on it being badly impacted by flooding, including in incidents in the Bridge Street and West End areas on Christmas morning 2020.

Storm Bert also caused chaos in November 2024 with police closing Hailey Road through to Crawley Road, with reports of householders having to run to grab sandbags from a nearby school.

The town council said while it had not been "a full de-silting operation", removing the top layer of silt allowed the river to carry more water at Bridge Street.

The EA said d-esilting could, in some cases, "improve conveyance through the river system and increase channel capacity".

Removing the accumulation of silt at the base of the Witney bridge reduced the risk of water blockages