Storm Henk: 'Scary' flooding at Northamptonshire Billing Aquadrome forces 2,000 people to flee

Northamptonshire Fire and rescue service rescue people from houseboats at the Billing Aquadrome in Northampton after the pathway to land was blocked due to rising water caused by Storm Henk. A severe flood alert, meaning danger to life, was in place for the River Nene in Northampton, which warned of deep and fast-flowing water at the Billing Aquadrome holiday park and nearby business parks. Picture date: Wednesday January 3, 2024. Credit: PA
People living in caravans and houseboats at Billing Aquadrome have been told to leave their homes. Credit: PA

An estimated 2,000 people living in houseboats and caravans have been evacuated from a riverside caravan park flooded by Storm Henk.

Hundreds of people were forced from Billing Aquadrome in Northamptonshire on Tuesday, with the Environment Agency warning on Wednesday that water levels would "remain high for the next few days”.

Emergency services are at the scene, with residents in houseboats being taken to the shore in rubber boats after a walkway was submerged by rising water.

West Northamptonshire Council said it was trying to assist those who had nowhere else to go but pointed out residents should have alternative accommodation to go to as they were not permitted to live at the park all year round.

Robert Britchford, one of an estimated 2,000 residents to have been evacuated, said they were now searching for somewhere to stay.

Roads flooded and trains cancelled in Storm Henk aftermath
Rescue teams have been helping people from their homes. Credit: PA

He said: “It’s the second time in three years that it has flooded. I moved my cars out of the way, and I thought I would try and wait it out, because I thought it would be nice today, but no, the evacuation notice went out at 2.30pm yesterday and that was it.

“I’m a bit anxious. We felt it was coming, but we hoped it wouldn’t. Now we have to find hotels. They won’t let us back on until this is all sorted, so it could be a month before we come back on.

Aerial shots show the extent of the flooding at Billing Aquadrome. Credit: PA

“There are no sandbags or anything. I’ve got a bit of decking around mine, and that’s it, so if the water goes over door level, that’s my caravan gone, and I can’t afford a new one.”

Mr Britchford, who moved to the site in 2016, estimated that to replace his caravan would cost "around £150,000 and I haven’t got £150,000 lying around".

Robert Britchford said he had no idea what would happen to his home. Credit: PA

He added: “It doesn’t look promising at the moment so it’s just a case of wait and see and hopefully we can get back on at some point.”

Eddie Hancock, a resident who lives around two miles away from Billing Aquadrome, said the high water levels were “scary” and he had never seen the water so high in around 30 years of living in the area.

He said: “Our house is pretty much OK as we’re further over, we’re up a hill, but it’s drastic. I have never, ever seen emergency services over there.

“It’s worrying. I feel sorry for the poor people on Billing Aquadrome. It’s mad, I wouldn’t want to be over there. It has never, ever been this bad. I thought I would come down and have a look and it is bad. It’s scary.”

The Environment Agency website said that the storm had brought heavy rainfall causing the River Nene to rise to “very high levels with deep fast-flowing water”, adding that water levels will remain high for “the next few days”.

One resident said that he and his neighbours were “worried sick” about whether they could return to their homes but had heard “nothing” from officials about the extent of the damage caused.

Meanwhile, many have had to source alternative accommodation, with the nearby hotel, The Quays, now fully booked, according to staff at the adjoining pub.

A spokesman for West Northamptonshire Council said: "Those staying at Billing are required to have a main residence and each year, at about this time, are required to leave the park for around a month as they can’t live in the mobile homes all year round. 

"In the event of anyone not being able to access their main residence they should be trying to book emergency hotel accommodation.

"We have set up a multi-disciplinary team at The Venue (at Billing Aquadrome) with housing and adult social care staff, alongside colleagues from fire and police, who can talk to residents from the park who might struggle to access alternative accommodation. An emergency reception centre has also been established."

The flood warning for Billing Aquadrome is one of 295 issued across the country due to flooding caused by Storm Henk, as of noon on Wednesday.

A further 330 flood alerts have also been issued, meaning flooding is possible.

There has been widespread travel disruption across the country, with one motorist, a man in his 50s, killed when a tree fell on his car near Kemble, in Gloucestershire.

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