Residents have been flooded out of their homes at Billing Aquadrome just weeks after the last floods at the caravan site
Several roads have been closed and no services are stopping at Northampton Railway Station due to flooding
A number of flood warnings remain in place county-wide
We are ending our live updates on the Northamptonshire floods
emergency services in the county have now rated the floods a "major incident"
Scroll down to read more, or you can read a round-up of all of the main updates here
There will also be further reporting on this evening's edition of Look East from 18:30 GMT.
The latest flood warnings can be found on the Environment Agency's page, external
and West and North Northamptonshire councils have further advice on their websites too
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFlooding at Billing Aquadrome - in picturespublished at 17:35 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202417:35 GMT 25 November 2024Here are some of the scenes witnessed at Billing Aquadrome today
as the area remains under a severe flood warning
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingEnvironment Agency: 'This is a one in 100 flood'published at 17:27 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202417:27 GMT 25 November 2024Ben Thornley
area flood risk manager for the Environment Agency
has described the significance of this round of flooding in Northamptonshire
Mr Thornley said: "We're seeing the highest flows [of water] through Northampton that we've ever seen
"180 tonnes of water a second was flowing through Northampton this weekend
We believe this is at least a one in a 100 flood
"We expect significant challenges as the water travels down through the Nene catchment
heading through Thrapston and up towards Peterborough."
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingBilling Aquadrome resident: Floods 'worst I've ever seen'published at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202417:03 GMT 25 November 2024Sam Craddock
has lived in a lodge at Billing Aquadrome for 15 years and tells the BBC's Jo Black the flooding over the weekend is "the worst [she has] ever seen"
She will now be staying in rented accommodation
"We didn't expect the flooding to be this bad
We don't know what our lodge looks like because the water level is so high," she says
so I don't know what's going to happen with that
We don't know when we'll be allowed back."
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingUpdate on Overstone Road 'sinkhole'published at 16:44 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202416:44 GMT 25 November 2024Regarding the hole that has opened up underneath a property on Overstone Road in Northampton
Ms Earnshaw adds it is not directly related to the flooding and has been caused by building works
our engineers decided the best thing to do was to remove those residents affected," she says
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCouncil comments on Billing Aquadrome floodingpublished at 16:40 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202416:40 GMT 25 November 2024Anna Earnshaw
chief executive of West Northamptonshire Council
has told Roberto Perrone on BBC Radio Northampton: "We have to accept
that Billing Aquadrome was built on a flood area [in 1960]
In this day and age you just wouldn't get planning permission
"I really feel for the residents faced with the devastation [the flooding] has caused
"Some people are having to be rehoused temporarily
which is exceptionally difficult as it's hard to find hotel rooms
"We have three rescue centres running with around 80-odd people in them
we will cater for them overnight - we've got blankets
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRailway spokesperson gives updatepublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202416:22 GMT 25 November 2024Speaking to BBC Radio Northampton
London Northwestern Railway spokesperson Andrew McGill says the floodwater has receded at Northampton Station
he says: "The issue we have now is the level of flooding is such that there has to be safety checks on all the railway infrastructure
"Network Rail are in the process of doing that now
but we understand this will not be complete by tomorrow
And that means we won't be able to run any trains to or from Northampton Station tomorrow
"There will be rail replacement bus services to Rugby and Milton Keynes."
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingTwo children rescued from carpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202415:49 GMT 25 November 2024Corby
Weldon and the surrounding area was also badly hit last night
and various roads in the town and the A43 being shut for a period of time
According to the Northamptonshire Telegraph,, external fire crews were sent to Phoenix Parkway to rescue two adults and two children stuck in their car
Multiple posts from residents on Facebook also showed flooding had affected the area near Lidl on Oakley Road
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingTrain disruption to continue into tomorrowpublished at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202415:41 GMT 25 November 2024Pete CooperBBC News
Posting on X, external
London Northwestern Railway says: "Tuesday 26/11 Due to flooding no services will operate to and from Northampton."
"Replacement buses will operate between Rugby & Northampton
Further information and guidance on flooding
West Northamptonshire – https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/its-emergency/report-flood, external
North Northamptonshire – https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/flooding, external
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFlooding affecting Wellingboroughpublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202415:25 GMT 25 November 2024Further along the River Nene
water levels at Wellingborough's embankment have also risen today
as the heavy rain makes its way down stream
These photos were taken by the BBC's Jo Black
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Low' mood at Billing Aquadromepublished at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202415:14 GMT 25 November 2024A resident of Billing Aquadrome
says the mood at the site today has been "low" - and many of her neighbours are hoping to move away soon
"Everyone knows when you hear the sirens you have got to go
But now some of us are still stuck here and a lot of the roads are closed
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingAssistance centre opened in Ketteringpublished at 14:55 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202414:55 GMT 25 November 2024The statement goes on to describe how North Northamptonshire Council has set up another assistance centre in Kettering at the Counties Community Centre
for residents at the Venture Park area of the town
And the councils' highways teams are supporting emergency services with flooding incidents county-wide
having so far received more than 160 calls
mainly relating to reports of flooding and fallen trees
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPolice 'expect to remain very busy'published at 14:50 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202414:50 GMT 25 November 2024Northamptonshire Police says it received more than 600 calls to 999 related to Storm Bert
Demand for assistance continues to be "extremely high"
with the police and fire services asking people to only dial 999 where there is a risk to life
says: "Please avoid all unnecessary travel and do not drive through floodwater of any depth
"We expect to remain very busy over the coming days dealing with issues relating to Storm Bert
and I would ask residents in Northamptonshire to consider whether any journey they're making is necessary."
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWelfare checks carried outpublished at 14:46 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202414:46 GMT 25 November 2024The emergency services say West Northamptonshire Council and the Children's Trust have now carried out welfare checks and calls to the area's most vulnerable children and adults
They add that control rooms for police and fire received more than a 1,000 calls over the weekend from people needing help
The fire service says it received 245 weather-related calls
with 36 incidents needing to be attended to by firefighters
An emergency response has been carried out at Billing Aquadrome
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMajor incident announced - more informationpublished at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202414:40 GMT 25 November 2024Following the evacuation of approximately 1,000 people at Billing Aquadrome
West Northamptonshire Council says it is providing a rest centre for about 84 people at Lings Forum Leisure Centre
Their immediate welfare and temporary accommodation needs are being assessed by council teams
who are also making welfare checks on vulnerable people across the county
Six people with care and support needs have been moved to alternative provision
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMajor incident declared - the latestpublished at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202414:33 GMT 25 November 2024As mentioned
a major incident has been declared in Northamptonshire as heavy rainfall during Storm Bert has led to widespread flooding across the county
A statement released by Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service
representing the county's emergency services and the councils
says several areas have been "heavily hit" by floods
with "emergency services and volunteers working to rescue residents from flooded properties and stranded vehicles"
It says a number of flood alerts and warnings remain in place
including a severe flood warning at Billing Aquadrome
where residents have been forced to leave their homes
with many residents being forced to leave their homes
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingEmergency services declare 'major incident'published at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202414:22 GMT 25 November 2024BreakingThe flooding across Northamptonshire caused by Storm Bert has led to the county's emergency services declaring a "major incident"
We'll bring you the latest from their joint statement shortly
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingOverstone Road hole being 'assessed'published at 14:20 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202414:20 GMT 25 November 2024Overstone Road in Northampton has been closed while inspections are carried out at the site of a possible sinkhole underneath a house
a spokesperson from West Northamptonshire Council said: "A structural engineer is assessing the building where the sinkhole has appeared on Overstone Road to determine whether it is safe for people to return to the location
"We will continue to keep those affected updated."
Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingBilling resident of 25 years to move away after floodspublished at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 202414:13 GMT 25 November 2024James GrantReporter
has lived at Billing Aquadrome for 25 years
but he has finally had enough - and will move away after this round of flooding
Speaking outside The Quays pub by the holiday park
Mr Brown says: "It's four times this year
That's just my lodge that I own."
An aborted scheme to build a new garage workshop for Northants police and fire vehicles has ended up costing the taxpayer almost £400,000, NN Journal has learned.
Northamptonshire’s disgraced former police, fire and crime commissioner Stephen Mold had made the decision in 2021 to buy the unit in Earls Barton and turn it into a vehicle maintenance workshop.
However after projected costs of renovating the unit spiralled from £6m to £16m, Stephen Mold decided to scrap the project, a move that NN Journal can reveal has cost the Northants tax payer £390,920.
The unit in Baron Avenue was recently sold for £3.3m - the same price it was bought for from Charterhouse Ventures- but there have been additional costs of agents fees, security and business rates.
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone, who took over the role from Conservative Stephen Mold said:
“Poor decision making has cost the Office – and the public – a significant amount of money.
“While I am pleased to see a joint workshop developed, so that both organisations can work together where it makes sense to do so, I am determined to make sure that the investments we make in buildings meet the business needs of both Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service in the most cost effective, and community-focussed way.”
The commissioner’s office has supplied a breakdown of the costs. £187,500 went on stamp duty; £60,156 was spent on agents fees (for the sale and advertising); £33,047 was spent on security and repairs; business rates during the three years it was owned by the commissioner’s office cost £110,517.
£170,000 has been spent on design and consultation, although the commissioner’s office has said this sum will not be wasted as the designs will now be transferred to a new building at the Darby House headquarters on the Park Farm Industrial estate in Wellingborough.
“This is still going ahead but on land we already own at Darby House and so these costs were avoided in preparing the new design for the current planning application.”
Darby House is the new headquarters on the Park Farm Industrial estate in Wellingborough.
The unit was raided three times in one month last year. Stephen Mold had said last June the site would incur a ‘small loss’ but tried to spin the situation by instead claiming he had saved the taxpayer £8m by not going ahead with the scheme which had been his idea.
The news of the money wasted, is another dent in the reputation of the former commissioner, who had to stand down after the derogatory remarks he made about his fire chief Nikki Watson, received widespread condemnation.
This came after months of scandal first sparked when he appointed his rumoured girlfriend Nicci Marzec to the role of chief fire officer despite not having any fire experience.
The Local Democracy Reporting service has also said the former Kettering Police station has been sold with contracts exchanged
The ‘eyesore’ building has stood empty for years
No figures on sale fees have yet been made public
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The Conservatives are proving to be a farce when supposedly they are promoting democracy as their Go-To word.
The Panel is made up of 12 people, 8 of whom are Tory councillors.
Their politically spiteful act of circling the wagons is not in the public interest which in turn does not serve the people who voted them in or who must live under their regime.
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An aborted scheme to build a new garage workshop for Northants police and fire vehicles has ended up costing the taxpayer almost \u00A3400,000, NN Journal has learned.
Northamptonshire\u2019s disgraced former police, fire and crime commissioner Stephen Mold had made the decision in 2021 to buy the unit in Earls Barton and turn it into a vehicle maintenance workshop.
However after projected costs of renovating the unit spiralled from \u00A36m to \u00A316m, Stephen Mold decided to scrap the project, a move that NN Journal can reveal has cost the Northants tax payer \u00A3390,920.
The unit in Baron Avenue was recently sold for \u00A33.3m - the same price it was bought for from Charterhouse Ventures- but there have been additional costs of agents fees, security and business rates.
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone, who took over the role from Conservative Stephen Mold said:
\u201CPoor decision making has cost the Office \u2013 and the public \u2013 a significant amount of money.
\u201CWhile I am pleased to see a joint workshop developed, so that both organisations can work together where it makes sense to do so, I am determined to make sure that the investments we make in buildings meet the business needs of both Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service in the most cost effective, and community-focussed way.\u201D
The commissioner\u2019s office has supplied a breakdown of the costs. \u00A3187,500 went on stamp duty; \u00A360,156 was spent on agents fees (for the sale and advertising); \u00A333,047 was spent on security and repairs; business rates during the three years it was owned by the commissioner\u2019s office cost \u00A3110,517.
\u00A3170,000 has been spent on design and consultation, although the commissioner\u2019s office has said this sum will not be wasted as the designs will now be transferred to a new building at the Darby House headquarters on the Park Farm Industrial estate in Wellingborough.
\u201CThis is still going ahead but on land we already own at Darby House and so these costs were avoided in preparing the new design for the current planning application.\u201D
The unit was raided three times in one month last year. Stephen Mold had said last June the site would incur a \u2018small loss\u2019 but tried to spin the situation by instead claiming he had saved the taxpayer \u00A38m by not going ahead with the scheme which had been his idea.
The \u2018eyesore\u2019 building has stood empty for years
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