The impacts of flooding can be devastating in terms of the cost of repairs, replacement of damaged property, loss of business and considerable personal trauma.
We are the Lead Local Flood Authority and as such have a series of powers, duties and responsibilities for coordinating the management of local flood risk.
Flood Forum
Bedford Borough Council's Flood Forum reviews flooding that takes place in the Borough. It is an opportunity for local communities to find out more about flooding and flood risk.
Join Bedford Borough Council’s Flood Forum 2026 on Thursday 26 March 2025, from 2.30pm to 6.30pm at Great Denham Community Centre, 86 Saxon Way, Bedford, MK40 4GP (what3words: ///planet.tracks.lakes).
This free, drop-in event is open to everyone and gives residents the chance to:
- Speak with the Resilience Team and flood risk partners including the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Board, Anglian Water, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Flood Re.
- Learn more about how the Council manages local flood risk, including its partnership work with national agencies.
- Understand shared responsibilities for flood risk management - the Council coordinates local efforts as the Lead Local Flood Authority, while residents are responsible for protecting their own homes and maintaining any watercourses on their land.
- Get practical advice on how to prepare for flooding and make your property more resilient.
A previous Flood Forum took place on Wednesday 12 February 2025, hosted by the Mayor of Bedford Borough and Council partners.
View the Flood Forum 2025 presentation (PDF).
Shared duties and responsibilities
- Department of Environmental, Rood and Rural Affairs has overall national responsibility for policy on flood and coastal erosion risk management, and provides funding for flood risk management authorities through flood defence grants.
- The Environment Agency sets the national strategy and provides support and guidance to local authorities.
- Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCCs) are split up into regional areas based on river catchments. Anglian (Great Ouse) RFCC is responsible for Bedford Borough, which falls into the Upper Great Ouse River catchment. RFCCs approves the annual programme of flood defence work in its region and sets the local levy (PDF). The Committees are made up of a Chairman appointed by Defra, members appointed by the Environment Agency and members appointed by local authorities. All meetings are open to the public.
- Part of the Borough is covered by the Bedford Group of Internal Drainage Boards (IDB) which provides local storm water management through ordinary watercourse maintenance and improvement.
- Anglian Water is responsible for the public sewerage system, which is made up of a network of sewers and drains.
- If your property is adjacent to a watercourse of any description, or this passes through or under your property, you are a riparian owner. As a riparian owner you should be maintaining your waterways regularly and keeping vegetation and obstacles that may restrict the flow of the water clear from the bed and banks.
You can also view a map displaying the different organisations' areas of responsibility (PDF) and a table of full drainage responsibilities for the Borough (PDF).