Oxford flooding WORK on a £150m flood defence scheme to protect western areas of Oxford start again by the end of the year. The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme is a plan to create a new stream in the floodplain, which would protect areas like Botley Road, Abingdon Road and South Hinksey from flooding. A planning application to get the scheme off the ground is due to be submitted later this year, after the works were delayed so a new bridge could be built on the southern section of the Oxford ring road. Ahead of that, the consortium which is running the scheme has started to ask members of the public what they think about the plans, which have been changed slightly.