As promised survey of flood-prone Kettering waterway delayed, council urged to 'get on with it'
Survey work to assess a flood-prone Kettering waterway has still to be completed despite funding being in place for two-and-a-half years.
In 2023, residents living along the course of the East Brook joined forces to call for action on flooding along the stretch that flows, mostly underground north to south, through Kettering.
Cllr James Towns (Green, All Saints) has been campaigning for action to be taken by North Northants Council (NNC) to help residents hit by multiple floods that left filthy water pouring into their homes.
In February 2024, funding totalling £425,000 for investigation work into Kettering’s East Brook culvert was approved by the Anglian (Northern) Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC).
But the detailed CCTV survey of the East Brook Culvert work has still to be completed and the funding of about £118,500 from the Environment Agency unused by NNC.
Cllr Towns said: “I am disappointed to report that little progress appears to have been made in the last year. Flooding will happen again, it’s just a matter of time before it happens again. They (NNC) have got the funding but there seems to be a lack of urgency. The residents are concerned and they are being ignored.
“I would say ‘make some progress’ and ‘get on with it’.”
Working with fellow Green councillor Dez Dell, the representatives have continued to raise the problem with the council since September 2025.
In response to questions asked at a full council meeting about the progress of the survey, on September 19, portfolio holder for planning and economic growth, Cllr Jan O’Hara (Reform) responded ‘works are expected to commence in December 2025 or January 2026’ with the expectation to ‘have all information available in February 2026, provided no unforeseen issues arise during the process’.
Cllr Towns said: “On May 25, 2026 I submitted an enquiry about progress on East Brook and received a response from the council’s head of policy and placemaking on May 28, 2026.
"They explained that ‘progress with this project hasn't advanced as quickly as I would have liked, we are however overcoming the holdups and expect to have far more to report on later this summer to inform further decisions on initiatives and funding going forward’.”
In August, Cllr Towns submitted further enquiry about progress on East Brook and received a further response from the council’s head of policy.
The statement said: “Despite some progress having been made, with support from the procurement team guiding us to tender through the preparation of a quotation document, delays have occurred whilst waiting for a member of the council's legal team to advise on the terms and conditions of the quotation.”
Progress was also delayed by after the member of the flood and water team leading on the work recently left their role – their replacement is now in place.
NNC is hopeful they can commission the consultants and start the surveys ‘quickly’. A flood and water specialist has also been recruited into a new role starting in October.
Cllr Towns has written to Cllr O’Hara in an effort to speed up the progress on the survey.
He added: “Hopefully the council will report back soon that they are making progress on this matter, and a solution might be in sight to stop the East Brook flooding.”
Residents are being urged to keep reporting any floods to help provide statistical data to the NNC and Environment Agency by clicking here.