Flooding fear for care home resident

James Duff said the flooding outside his care home had been a problem for years

A care home resident has said he fears emergency access to his home could be hampered by flooding of the road outside.

James Duff, a resident of Henley Manor Care Home in Oxfordshire, said the road had been flooding ever since the property opened four years ago.

The 102-year-old said he was "very worried" the ambulances which "often are required" at the home would be unable to get through.

Oxfordshire County Council said flood reduction work was planned while Hallmark Care Homes, which runs the property, said there was another entrance unaffected by flooding.

Mr Duff said he was worried the flood water could hamper emergency vehicles

Mr Duff moved into the care home in August 2023 when "it was dry".

"I was able to get in," he said.

"But since I've been here now, over a year, people have difficulty getting in."

He said ambulances had so far not had a problem getting through, but the flooding was an "ongoing problem" that he worried could get worse.

"Everybody could have a heart attack or anything like that, and an ambulance comes from Reading," he said.

"I'm very worried."

Mr Duff said the problems "have to be solved"

He said the issue had been reported to the council but so far he had just been told a solution was under review.

"But not for four years, surely?" he said.

"We want to get somebody to take action."

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said there was a soakaway at the end of the road, designed to allow water to slowly sink into the ground instead of building up on the surface, but it was too small for "the frequency and extent of current wet weather".

They said the road was too small to enlarge it, but they had ordered specialist contractors to refurbish it and install a borehole.

"However, our suppliers are currently awaiting delivery of equipment from abroad and this is unfortunately taking longer than expected," they said.

They added they were "pushing" contractors for updates, and that work would begin as soon as the equipment was available.

A spokesperson for Hallmark Care Homes said resident safety was "of the upmost importance".

"At Hallmark Henley Manor, the building has secondary rear access that is unaffected by flooding," they said.

"While we have never experienced issues with large vehicles like ambulances accessing the property, the back entrance provides an additional route for visitors, residents, staff, and emergency services."