Bedfordshire residents are being advised to heed safety advice this morning (Friday 5 January) following a busy 16 hours of flood-related incidents.
People are encouraged to check their journey before they travel with a significant amount of road closures in place across the county, including the A421 eastbound from the M1 to Marston.
The messages are clear:
- Stay out of flood water
- Don’t drive through flood water
- Only ring 999 if there’s a risk to life
- Roads and pavements might be blocked so check your journey before you travel.
Fire Service Control has received more than 30 flood-related calls since 8pm yesterday including a few incidents involving people in cars in floodwater.
Fire crews were deployed in Leighton Buzzard alongside police, Central Bedfordshire Council and emergency volunteers (BLEVEC) to assess risk to life after Clipstone Brook burst its banks. Despite numerous properties being impacted, no one needed to be rescued from their property. Central Bedfordshire Council have set up assistance centres at Meadow Way Community Centre and Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre for any residents who need to leave their properties, these will remain open throughout the day.
A flood warning is also in place for the Shefford area. If residents need to leave their properties in this area, they can go to the assistance centre at Shefford Town Council offices.
Peak river levels are expected at about midday so there may be more flooding yet to come this morning.
Group Commander Rob Hulatt added: "Partners from across Bedfordshire Local Resilience Forum have been working together overnight to support residents impacted by flooding and to manage road closures.
“The advice still stands - please only call 999 in an emergency if there is a risk to life. We are doing all we can to support those affected by flooding across Bedfordshire but we must prioritise those most at risk.
"We're encouraging those who could be impacted later today to be prepared too. Check for updates with your local council and your flood risk at www.gov.uk/check-long-term-flood-risk and leave plenty of time if you are travelling.”
Where to get information
Central Beds: Flooding updates | Central Bedfordshire Council
Luton: Flooding (luton.gov.uk)
Bedford Borough: www.bedford.gov.uk/environmental-issues/emergencies/emergency-flooding