Residents of Billing Aquadrome will remain shut out of their homes until at least Friday, caravan park managers have announced.
An update on Twitter said this morning: “Acting on advice given by the Environment Agency and emergency services we regret to advise that Billing Aquadrome will remain closed until Friday - 30/11/2012.”
The news is likely to affect 600 people who were evacuated last Wednesday, some of whom are still sleeping in temporary accommodation.
Meanwhile, flood warnings remain in place across Northamptonshire following a period of “extraordinary” wet weather over the last few days.
Northamptonshire has had “twice the monthly average of rain since last Wednesday”.
Police and experts today said water levels are still rising on the River Nene, at Billing Aquadrome and Cogenhoe Mill, with flows further downstream at Wellingborough not expected to peak until this afternoon.
Norman Robinson, Environment Agency manager, said: “We have been experiencing extraordinary weather across the whole country. The weekend saw a further 30mm of rainfall on Northamptonshire and we have now had twice the monthly average of rain since last Wednesday.
“As a result, flows in the Nene remain high and it has been agreed with emergency services, local authorities and site management that both Billing Aquadrome and Cogenoe Mill will remain closed until at least Friday.
“We appreciate this is a very difficult time for those affected and we are doing our best to get the situation back to normal as soon as possible.
“We are asking people down stream at Wellingborough to be vigilant at this time whilst there is a heightened risk across the rest of today and tomorrow.
“It is important to note that even though we have had such significant rainfall, all of our defences and emergency plans are working well during what now is a national flood crisis. Our advice is to keep a close eye on the Environment Agency website and local media for ongoing updates.”
Police have also issued a safety message about the danger of flood waters and considerable standing water around the county.
Assistant Chief Constable Martin Jelley said: “The multi-agency group is continuing to work together to ensure a coordinated and effective response to the exceptionally wet weather we have been experiencing and the flooding and risk of flooding this is presenting.
“The emergency services have experienced a high level of calls over the weekend and we would like to remind people to take extra care during this period of weather and only call the police, fire or ambulance services in an emergency.
“We strongly urge people to avoid flood and standing water as some of the water can be very deep and potentially dangerous. Drivers should take extra care on the roads and we would also ask walkers to avoid areas where flood warnings have been issued, in particular public footpaths, especially those which cross Billing Aquadrome.”
Comments