Heavy rain solves Oxford problem

THE heavy rainfall over the past few days has solved the problem of lack of water in the Cherwell after illegal abstraction.

The river is now up to normal level between Cropredy Lock 25 and Banbury Lock 29 with no restrictions, Keith Gudgin tells us.

Illegal abstraction

It was the illegal abstraction from the river above the locks that caused a dramatic fall in its level and problems to navigation, with the Environment Agency being brought in to investigate. (Cherwell feed dries up.)

It is not known however if the Agency discovered the cause of the abstraction.