£ Millions Lost in Drainage Scam
Town Residents at Risk - Police Called In

Readers may recall that in Easter 1998 Northampton town suffered terrible flooding, which sadly ended the life of two residents. Following this tragedy an inquest heard that almost no-one was to blame. The question is, what had happened to make things go so disastrously wrong for Northampton?

John Goodall of Nene Flood Prevention Alliance, which was established by residents and local politicians following the 1998 disaster, has been investigating the activities of Anglian Water on the lead up to the Easter 1998 flood. His evidence is that £ Millions that were earmarked for significant drainage improvements during the 1980’s were somehow diverted away from Northampton drainage works, which resulted in “vital” drainage works being left unfinished. In spite of the deaths in 1998, this fact did not come to light in the inquest, because the Environment Agency were not questioned about it at the time. Even today the drainage schemes, which are essential for protecting the town from high flow levels in the river Nene have still not been completed.

Not surprisingly, officials are not keen to discuss this matter - even though John Goodall has uncovered documentary evidence concerning the failure to finish drainage schemes that were fully funded. As a last resort, John has asked the Police to investigate the threat that is posed to the town’s safety and to find out where the missing £ millions disappeared to.

John claims that the works to reduce water levels through St. James were not carried out by Anglian Water in 1985 and the £3.1 Million provided by Northampton Development Corporation in 1984 cannot be fully accounted for. Had the works been completed to the standards contained in the specification, it can be proved that St. James would not have flooded in Easter 1998. The work is still not completed today and therefore St. James is still at risk of a repeat flood, because of flow blockage at Towcester Road bridge.

The History Behind This Story
The drainage works were approved after a Public Inquiry in 1984. John Goodall, secretary of the Nene Flood Prevention Alliance said “The Anglian Water Authority had the money. The audited accounts of the Development Corporation confirm this. It now appears that the Land Drainage Committee ‘skimmed’ the contract and used the money elsewhere. When I asked the Police to investigate this apparent misappropriation of funds, they told me that even if they do investigate, they will not tell me what happened to the money.”

“This was a Public Works contract for the safety of the people of Northampton. They have a right to know. The town is at risk. The missing money must be traced and the works completed before any more expansion of the town goes ahead. The Health & Safety Executive must also be informed, along with the Coroner.” Brian Binley MP has endorsed the call for a Police investigation.

It is alleged by John Goodall that the Environment Agency concealed these facts to cover up the Anglian Water misconduct and to enable further massive expansion of the town to proceed, when they know it must be unsafe. John has also discovered that at the Easter 1998 inquiry, the Police did not take any statements from Environment Agency officers regarding the working condition of the drainage system. This allowed the Environment Agency ‘off the hook’ as they were not asked any questions at the Inquest.

The town residents committee is now calling for a new Inquest on the grounds that the absence of core facts was “fatal to the outcome” of the original Inquiry. (This is a reference to Mr. Justice Field’s earlier ruling on an Inquest in the High Court June, 2007).

You will see from the photographs, which show the state of the drainage channel at Victoria Park in 1994 and compares it with its original state in the 1950’s, it appears that the channel had never been dredged since it was built. The unfinished contract works in 1984/5 were supposed to have deepened and regraded the river channel.

It would appear that the Police have refused to take a statement over this matter and the Coroner defends her verdict at the Inquiry into the death of Mrs Fisher in 1998.

Mr George Johnson, a resident of Tanner Street, whose property backs onto the bridge said: “This opens a can of worms as it appears the Police will not take statements or investigate the Environment Agency or its predecessors’ alleged misconduct. This looks dangerously like collusion. The Chief Constable should resign.”

Bob Butler, who represents St. James residents said: “We must find out why the works weren’t done and what happened to Public money. If this Chief Constable refuses to find out then another Force must be called in to investigate for the safety of Northampton. All this new development above St. James at Buckton Fields and Dallington Heath cannot be allowed to go ahead until the drainage work has been done to the original contract for the Bridge and St. James”.

Some of the photographs included on this site were kindly supplied by an arrangement with creative commons