Skip to content

Floods from Storm Bert lead to bridge closures

Bedford Borough Council Radwell road closure showing a Road Ahead Closed sign and a large red barrier. You can see a flooded river in the background, flood sign, trees and bushes. Bedford Borough Council
Radwell Bridge, north of Bedford, is impassable

Floods caused by Storm Bert have closed a number of road bridges across a county.

Bedford Borough Council said bridges at Harrold, Radwell and Felmersham were impassable.

It said the flooded A428 at Turvey Bridge had also been obstructed by a broken-down vehicle.

The council has urged people to not remove any barriers or drive through closures, adding the roads would reopen again when safe.

Bedford Borough Council A flooded entrance to Harrold-Odell Country Park. There is a large amount of water on the road, trees surrounding the road, a large fence, wooden barriers and two signs for the park. The sky is blue and there are leaves on the ground. Bedford Borough Council
Due to a large amount of floodwater on the road, the entrance to Harrold-Odell Country Park is inaccessible

High water levels along the River Great Ouse have also made Harrold-Odell Country Park inaccessible.

The main entrance and paths around the park and the river meadows have been flooded.

Bedford Borough Council High water levels in Bedford, showing the river which has burst its banks. There are swans paddling on a grass area to the left of the river, with buildings and trees in the background. It is a sunny day.Bedford Borough Council
The River Great Ouse's levels have risen along Bedford's embankment, leaving some areas only passable with suitable footwear

In Bedford, water levels remain high along the embankment.

"Do not walk or drive through flood water," the council said.

"Floodwaters may contain sewage and hide rubbish, wreckage, uneven roads and pavements, or broken drain and manhole covers."

Bedford Borough Council Bedford, showing the river, the Town Bridge and a church to the left. The river level is very high. There are buildings in the distance and the sky is blue. Bedford Borough Council
Water is high up the arches on Bedford Town Bridge

Following the storm, the council said a leaning tree in a Bedford Park car park would be cut down after its root plate "lifted further".

It said the tree, which was already leaning and had been monitored for five years, would be removed due to the "potential risk" it now posed.

"We understand this might be disappointing news for some, but safety is our top priority," the authority said.

"We are exploring options for replacing the tree with a new, suitable species that will thrive in the park."

Bedford Borough Council A large tree, by a park carpark, leaning to the right. There is a sign, parked cars to the right and a van to the left. Trees and a park are in the distance, with a large blue sky. Bedford Borough Council
Bedford Borough Council said it had closely monitored the already leaning tree beside Bedford Park for five years

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

You might also be interested in
Related internet links