Flood damage cost council more than £1m

Heavy rainfall that caused flooding across a county cost a local authority more than £1m.

Central Bedfordshire was hit by two instances of flooding, in January 2024, where people were evacuated from their homes, and September, where a month's worth of rainfall fell in 48 hours.

The incidents cost Central Bedfordshire Council £1.158m, which included paying for emergency accommodation and contractors who worked to make highways safe again.

A report into the flooding - which was commissioned in January 2024 - is due to be published by the end of February, after it was delayed due to the September flooding.

The flooding was brought up in a Central Bedfordshire Council meeting on 30 January.

John Baker, an Independent councillor, said: "That expense doesn't cover the cost of officers who worked into evenings and at weekends, and went above and beyond to help residents and councillors.

"It doesn't cover the time invested by parish councillors and volunteers, but it gives me the chance to thank those who went out of their way to support people during those terrible floods."

However, the authority said it had not received any money from the government.

Mr Baker said: "It's very disappointing, but we're trying to make things better in our own budget with an additional proposed £150,000 for gully clearance to prevent some of the incidents we've seen taking place.

"That's our money, and certainly there's been nothing so far to replace the £1.158m."

The BBC has contacted the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for comment.

In January, residents in Bedfordshire were evacuated from their homes after the River Ouzel in Leighton Buzzard rose to 1.88 metres (6ft) and the water levels at Clipstone Brook reached 2.31 metres (7.5ft).

In September, the A421 was closed between the A6 at Bedford to the M1 junction 13 near Brogborough and Marston Moretaine and enough water to fill two Olympic sized swimming pools was pumped from the road.

Adam Zerny, an Independent councillor on Central Bedfordshire Council, said: "Following the January 2024 flooding, a report has been drafted.

"It isn't entirely the fault of officers. Ultimately we have to confer with the other risk management authorities, such as the Environment Agency and the (local) Internal Drainage Board.

"It was delayed somewhat by another major flood in September. Officers' attention was diverted to restricting the impact on residents."

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