A major new drainage initiative is under way across Oxfordshire, with work now started to clean and empty every highway gully in the county annually.

The £2.6 million programme, which began last month in Wheatley, will see nearly 145,000 highway drains, gullies, manholes, and catchpits cleaned by the end of March 2026. The project follows an additional £1.5 million investment approved in Oxfordshire County Council's 2025–26 budget to boost highway drainage services.

Previously, routine drain cleaning was carried out on a four-year cycle, although drains in flood-prone or high-speed areas received more frequent attention.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: "We recognised the need to improve drainage, especially following the flooding in the county last year caused by exceptionally wet weather.

"This money will be used to empty gullies, carry out improved drainage management, and repair the infrastructure connecting the gullies to the outlets. Improving drainage also helps protect roads by getting water off the surfaces, reducing the risk of potholes forming during freezing weather."

-- Advertisement --

Drain cleaning is being carried out using suction pipes and high-powered water jets, with manual excavation used where necessary due to heavy silt build-up. The programme is designed to cause minimal disruption, although temporary traffic controls may be used where lane or road closures are required.

Motorists are being asked to avoid blocking access to drains and to drive cautiously near cleaning operations.

Specialist contractor Drainline is delivering the cleaning programme on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council’s main highways maintenance provider, M Group—formerly known as Milestone Infrastructure.

Richard Lovewell, M Group Business Director, said: "We are proud to be working with Oxfordshire County Council and Drainline to deliver this crucial year-long programme, which will improve our drainage systems and reduce the risk of flooding and potholes.

"With Drainline's expert team and specialised tanker fleet, we are well equipped to tackle even the toughest drainage challenges.

"While we've designed the programme to minimise public disruption, I'd like to thank residents and motorists for their cooperation in providing access by moving vehicles. This support is crucial for our teams to perform their vital work, ensuring the safety and durability of Oxfordshire's roads."

The programme has nearly doubled capacity, with eight tankers in operation—six 18-tonne and two 26-tonne jetting vehicles. Larger tankers are deployed for high-volume or high-pressure work, and two tankers operate at night on rural roads to limit impact on residents.

All vehicles are equipped with advanced asset management software to log data and identify drains that are inaccessible, ensuring future revisits or repairs can be scheduled.