Skip to content

Residents unable to return to flooded Northampton holiday park

BBC Mobile holiday homes surrounded by waterBBC
Billing Aquadrome flooded for the second time this year

Some residents of a holiday park that was evacuated at the weekend say they do not know when they will be able to return to their properties.

People were told to leave Billing Aquadrome, near Northampton, on Saturday after managers became concerned about rising flood water.

Some residents have still not had their electricity supply restored.

Resident Millie Betts said: "We just keep getting told that the engineers are working on it."

Richard Knights/BBC Cars queuing at Billing AquadromeRichard Knights/BBC
Hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate Billing Aquadrome on Saturday

It is the second time this year the park has been evacuated.

Posting on social media early on Saturday, park management said: "The park is now in full evacuation! Please ensure you take all the belongings you need including medication, pets and clothes!"

Man with short grey hair wearing a suit and standing in Northampton town centre
West Northamptonshire Council leader Jonathan Nunn said flooding at Billing Aquadrome could not be allowed to continue

The Conservative leader of West Northamptonshire Council, Jonathan Nunn, said that about sixty people spent the night at a sheltered venue at the park where emergency bedding and hot food were provided.

"For the sake of those residents who continue to be affected by flooding at Billing, we cannot allow it to keep happening," he said.

"There needs to be a sustainable, long-term solution to addressing these issues."

Young woman with dark hair and glasses standing on grass
Millie Betts said her holiday home still had no electricity supply and she did not know when she would be able to return

Water levels did not rise as high as predicted, and work began on Sunday to restore electricity to some parts of the park.

However, by Monday, some residents were still unable to return.

Millie Betts, who has owned a holiday home on the site for five years, said: "We still can't get on because we've got no electric.

"We did know that it was a flood plain when we moved on, but you still don't quite expect it until it happens."

Woman with long fair hair and glasses
Mary Brown left Billing Aquadrome during the previous evacuation on 1 January and has not yet returned

Mary Brown has owned a property on the site for twenty years, but the continued risk of flooding has made her think about leaving.

She said: "We would like to move in some respects, but I would miss it greatly. I love the area and the companionship of everybody around because everybody knows their neighbours, whereas in bricks and mortar, you don't".

Billing Aquadrome said that owners without electricity would be updated as quickly as possible as to when they would be able to return.

presentational grey line

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email [email protected] or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830