South Hinksey Emergency, Oxford

Jan and February 2014 would see unprecedented flooding in the south of the UK. In response, offering both flood response and mitigation assistance CPC Civils would work closely with and support Galliford Try.

The team would swiftly develop examples of how to provide solutions while tailoring them to individual locations. Careful design would follow alongside locating suppliers to assist.

The Environment Agency then contacted Galliford Try requesting our assistance to install temporary flood defences.  The aim of the defences would be to protect the Oxfordshire village of South Hinksey.

We received the client’s go-ahead at 1pm on a Friday afternoon. By 2pm on the following Sunday; over 900m of temporary defence had been sourced and installed.

During the South Hinksey Emergency, Galliford & CPC Civils managed the entire process utilising the Army personnel provided to install waterproof visqueen sheeting and sand bags.

Provided by CPC Civils, plant, equipment and materials would mobilise within a 12hr period.

This would include:

• 2no 24ton tracked excavators,
• 2no 21ton wheeled excavators,
• 2 all terrain forklift trucks,
• 2no trailers,
• 2no 10ton dumpers,
• 300no 1ton bulk sand bags,
• 5,000no small sand bags,
• 250no concrete vehicle barriers (TVCB’s),
• 15,000m2 visqueen sheeting
• 15 operatives to install the defences.

The support from local councillors and residents during the South Hinksey Emergency was fantastic.

The village hall was provided as an operation base. Children of the village made a sign expressing their thanks for our efforts. The sign was erected in the village hall during the works.

Letters of thanks for our efforts were received from the local councillor for a job well done in saving the village from the potential disaster that the floods threatened.