We are the Lead Local Flood Authority and have a duty to investigate certain incidents of flooding. 

Go to our Report flooding page to report a flooding incident.  

When we investigate

The need to investigate an incident of flooding is determined on a case-by-case basis by the Council. It takes into account factors such as uncertainty in the cause of flooding and the number of properties which have been affected.

What we do

Our investigation will look at the flooding issue in detail and try to establish what happened, what was affected and why. It will also suggest ways of reducing the risk of repeat events in the future. 

Only when Bedford Borough Council carries out a formal flood investigation must it publish the results of the investigation. It is not the responsibility of the council or the Investigating Officer to resolve the incident.

Published formal flood investigation reports

December 2020

Appendix 1: Section 19 Flood Investigation Report – December 2020 Flood Event (PDF)

Appendices 2 to 27: specific borough location Section 19 reports (all PDF documents).

Please download the PDF and then open within a PDF viewer such as Adobe Acrobat to use the interactive functionality.

• Appendix 2 - Bedford Boating Lake
• Appendix 3 - Bedford Priory Lake
• Appendix 4 - Bolnhurst
• Appendix 5 - Carlton - Pavenham Road
• Appendix 6 - Carlton - The Causeway
• Appendix 7 - Carlton - The Marsh
• Appendix 8 - Clapham
• Appendix 9 - Felmersham
• Appendix 10 - Harrold North
• Appendix 11 - Harrold South
• Appendix 12 - Kempston - Church Walk, High Street
• Appendix 13 - Kempston - Marina Court
• Appendix 14 - Keysoe - Row East
• Appendix 15 - Odell
• Appendix 16 - Pertenhall - Pertenhall Brook
• Appendix 17 - Pertenhall - Wood End Lane
• Appendix 18 - Podington
• Appendix 19 - Riseley
• Appendix 20 - Sharnbrook
• Appendix 21 - Swineshead
• Appendix 22 - Thurleigh
• Appendix 23 - Turvey
• Appendix 24 - Upper Dean
• Appendix 25 - Wyboston
• Appendix 26 - Wymington
• Appendix 27 - Yelden

You can also view the locations of the reports on a map here.

Previous reports

• Hawk Drive, Bedford March 2016
• Carlton Lower School, Carlton March 2016 
• Riseley, Bedfordshire March 2016 
• Upper Dean, Bedfordshire March 2016 
• Yelden, Bedfordshire March 2016 
• Bedford, Stour Way July 2013 
• Stewartby, Pillinge Road/Park Crescent April 2013 
• Stevington, Silver Street February 2013
• Sharnbrook, Kennell Hill December 2012