Around 100 residents from Billing Aquadrome to receive temporary accommodation
Residents have been sleeping on camp beds at Lings Forum Leisure Centre
Last updated 27th Nov 2024
The Leader of West Northamptonshire Council has confirmed that around 100 residents from Billing Aquadrome are set to receive temporary accommodation in the coming days.
It’s after more than 1,000 people were evacuated from the caravan site after the River Nene burst its banks.
Since then, people have been sleeping on camp beds at Lings Forum Leisure Centre.
Cllr Adam Brown, Leader of West Northamptonshire Council said: “Some are already moving into emergency accommodation and we’re expecting the majority of the remaining residents to be in tomorrow.
Depending on the needs and some more complex cases it could take a day or two longer, but we’ve got the facility at Lings Leisure Centre to make sure that they are dry, safe and warm in the meantime.”
We’ve been hearing from some residents who say they slept in their cars outside the Leisure Centre, so that they could be with their pets.
Councillor Brown added: “Some temporary accommodation won’t accept pets, so we are procuring more accommodation where pets are accepted by the owners.”
“We know it shouldn’t be happening, but it is happening"
The holiday park has been evacuated for the fourth time this year, and for the second time since September as a result of flooding.
However, there are plans to move residents away from the flood plains of the site to protect homes and the people that live there.
Councillor Brown told us they have been in contact with the owner at Billing Aquadrome and that these plans have come off the back of the flooding in September.
He added: “Sadly this latest flood incident came too soon for them to make the necessary adjustments”.
“We are still receiving the full cooperation of the site owners to make sure that people are appropriately accommodated and we’re not seeing people residing on that flood plain.
“We know it shouldn’t be happening, but it is happening and that necessitates a reaction from the council when we have instances such as this”, said the Leader of West Northamptonshire Council.
'Danger to life warning'
A 'danger to life' warning still remains in force as the clean-up continues following Storm Bert.
The Environment Agency's most severe flood warning covers the Billing Aquadrome holiday park along the River Nene, alongside nearby business parks.
It has re-issued the warning due to “deep and fast flowing water which remains on the park and which will continue to be extremely hazardous”.
You can check the governments Flood alert website for the latest warnings.