Northamptonshire Residents Grapple with Widespread Flooding After Storm Bert

On Sunday night, as rain heavily impacted windows, residents in Northamptonshire realized that extensive flooding was imminent once more, merely weeks after the county experienced significant rainfall in September. The aftermath of Storm Bert has led to the declaration of a major incident, compelling many individuals to evacuate their homes, resulting in road closures, and the submersion of a railway station. Among those most severely affected were the 1,000 people evacuated from Billing Aquadrome, after the River Nene overflowed and inundated the caravan site for the fourth time this year. What has been the experience for those grappling with the consequences? Louise Pledger received instructions to evacuate Billing Aquadrome, situated near Northampton, with little warning during the early hours of Monday. She states that the repercussions have left her “concerned about my kids”. “I’ve seen footage and everywhere is literally underwater,” she says. “My kids are in a bad way. They’re sleeping on their nan’s floor [and] I’ve had to sleep in a car.”It’s freezing. All I’ve got is the clothes I’m wearing – that’s it, nothing else.” Malcolm Clipstone is currently residing at the Lings Forum Leisure Centre, alongside approximately 60 other residents from Billing Aquadrome. West Northamptonshire Council established this rest centre for individuals lacking alternative housing and has also secured lodging for an additional 50 residents. The 87-year-old recounted that upon observing the water, he attempted to depart in his vehicle but became stranded. “The water was up to my waist and I had to force the door open against the current to get out, and then I had to wade through it to a decking and then just wait to be rescued,” he says. A tractor and trailer transported him away from the site. Mr. Clipstone, who resides alone, expressed relief that he has now, thankfully, “got some pants,” having been unable to retrieve any clothing when he evacuated. He presumes his caravan remains unflooded, “but then, the car’s underwater,” he states. Businesses in the vicinity of Billing, such as the Oriental Paradise restaurant, have also experienced flooding. Win Sun Sung, an employee at the restaurant, commented: “I knew it was flooded because the alarm system was on overnight, and in the morning the water was at knee level.” He reported that he and other personnel managed to salvage “some stuff” from the establishment, but he added: “We can’t do anything.” The restaurant will remain closed for a minimum of one week, he indicated, necessitating the cancellation of multiple reservations. Robyn Harper, a resident of Weedon, experienced flooding in her home on Monday, an event she described as having “never happened before.” “I wasn’t expecting it to rain that much, but it was like a river came down our street and in through the garage,” she says. “The Christmas presents are in the garage – they’ve all been soaked, so I’ve got to dry them out and hope that they are recoverable.” She also mentioned that her kitchen and hallway were submerged. Geoffrey Smith, chief executive of Meadow Bay Villages, the owner of Billing Aquadrome, affirmed that “flood resilience is our top priority.” He stated that £700,000 of the initial £4 million allocated for flood prevention measures has already been expended at the location. “Meadow Bay Villages remains steadfast in its commitment to implementing long-term flood resilience measures,” he adds. Concurrently, Adam Brown, leader of West Northamptonshire Council, noted that river levels in certain areas surpassed those of the destructive 1998 floods, yet more recent defensive structures have lessened the potential severity of the impact. “In the aftermath… we can review what happened and what could be improved,” he says.