Waterways Day 2026

Residents, experts and community organisations came together at the Corn Exchange in Witney on Friday 9 October for West Oxfordshire District Council’s annual Waterways Day.

Four well-attended talks and panel discussions explored the challenges facing our rivers and streams, and how we can work together to protect them. Residents had the opportunity to ask questions, share their experiences and hear from organisations working on water quality, flood prevention and nature recovery.

Swipe or scroll sideways to see photos from Waterways Day.

What we discussed

Development, infrastructure and water quality
The Environment Agency and the Council’s planning team explored the relationship between development, infrastructure and the health of our waterways.

Water pollution and accountability
The Environment Agency, Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP) and Earthwatch contributed to discussions about water pollution and holding those responsible to account.

Flood risks and mitigation
Oxfordshire County Council, Witney Flood Group and Flooded People discussed flood risks, their impact on communities and ways to reduce them.

Catchment partnerships, agriculture and nature recovery
Representatives from Cotswold Rivers Trust and the Windrush Catchment Partnership, the Evenlode Catchment Partnership, North East Cotswold Farmers Cluster and Nature Recovery Network explored how working across river catchments can support healthier waterways.

Presentations and further information

Presentation slides from the day will be available on this page so you can explore the topics in more detail and find out how to get involved.

Thank you to everyone who attended, spoke or contributed to the discussions.