Martin Brookes Oakham Rutland

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Rutland Flood Alerts: Stay Informed and Stay Safe

Rutland County Council has issued an urgent update regarding several active flood alerts across the county.

With localised flooding already impacting major roads, residents are encouraged to prepare now and remain vigilant.

A Flood Alert signifies that flooding is possible. Taking small steps now can significantly reduce the risk to your property and ensure your personal safety.

Areas Currently Under Flood Alert

The following areas are currently monitored for rising water levels:

East and West Glens
Lower Welland
River Wreake (Leicestershire)
Welland Valley
Witham (South Kesteven)

For live, minute-by-minute updates on these specific alerts, please visit the official GOV.UK Flood Service.

Local Travel Disruptions & Road Closures

Surface water is making driving conditions hazardous in several locations. Rutland County Council has received reports of flooding at the following sites:

Location	Specific Area
Oakham	Junction of Station Road and Kilburn Road
Langham	Melton Road (A606)
Tinwell	Main Street / Stamford Road (A6121)
Stretton	Manor Road

Advice for Motorists: Please avoid these areas if possible and seek alternative routes. Never attempt to drive through floodwater; just 30cm of moving water is enough to float a car.

How to Stay Prepared

Preparation is key to managing flood risks effectively.

Check the Forecast: Monitor the Met Office Weather Warnings for updates on rainfall intensity.
Prepare a Kit: Keep a "grab bag" ready with essentials (medication, insurance documents, torch, and batteries) in case you need to leave your home quickly.
Protect Your Property: If you are in a high-risk area, consider moving valuables to higher floors and ensuring any flood defenses (like sandbags or flood gates) are ready for use.

Reporting Flooding and Getting Help

If you encounter flooding on the roads or need to report an issue to the council, use the following resources:

General Advice & Reporting: rutland.gov.uk/flooding
Latest Local Updates: rutland.gov.uk/latest-flooding-information-advice

Emergency Note: In the event of an immediate danger to life, always call 999.

Stay safe, look out for vulnerable neighbors, and help keep Rutland moving by reporting issues as soon as they arise.

A New Year’s Resolution for Peace of Mind the Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr. Sarah Furness

A New Yea’s Resolution for Peace of Mind

As 2026 approaches, the Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr. Sarah Furness, is issuing a unique challenge to the community: make a New Year’s resolution that provides lasting peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones.

As the patron of Dying Matters Rutland (DMR), Dr. Furness is encouraging residents to take practical steps toward end-of-life planning. While often uncomfortable, addressing these "inevitable" realities such as making a will or documenting healthcare preferences—can prevent families from being left overwhelmed and forced to guess a loved one's wishes during a crisis. “There is a lot to think about, even if doing so is not comfortable," says Dr. Furness. "Would you prefer life to be prolonged at all costs or is comfort and quality of life most important to you? Do those close to you know your wishes or will they have to guess?”. While legal documents like wills are a primary focus, Dr. Furness highlights that smaller details are equally vital:

Specifying the type of funeral you would like.
Appointing who should manage your affairs when you need support.
Managing digital legacies, including those easily forgotten passwords.

"Dead Easy" Event Coming in May 2026

To help residents keep this resolution, DMR is organising a special event titled “Dead Easy: A Guide to the Inevitable” in May 2026. The event is designed to transform end-of-life preparation into something accessible and even comforting.

Attendees will have access to a panel of experts, including lawyers, funeral directors, and end-of-life counsellors, to help clarify procedures and provide trusted expertise. Dr. Hilary Fox, Chair of DMR, emphasises that the goal is to create a "safe, open space" to remove the stigma surrounding death and dying.

About Dying Matters Rutland

Dying Matters in Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland serves as a central hub for end-of-life information. By working with partners such as the Bereavement Help Point and The Loss Project, the charity strives to improve joined-up care and alleviate the administrative burdens families face during bereavement.

www.dyingmattersleicestershireandrutland.com/

For more information or to prepare for the "Dead Easy" challenge, residents can visit the DMR resources or contact Sandra McCune at drsandramccune@gmail.com.

Planning a festive shop in Oakham and Uppingham? Tesco, Co-op, Aldi, Lidl Christmas and New Year Opening. 2025 - 2026

Planning a festive shop in Oakham and Rutland?

To help you navigate the busy holiday season, here is the complete guide to the Tesco Oakham Superstore opening hours for Christmas 2025 and the start of 2026.

Tesco Oakham Christmas Opening Hours 2025

The store will be operating most nights until 10:00 PM (22:00), with the exception of Sundays and Christmas Eve.

Date	Day	Opening Hours
16 December	Tuesday	08:00 – 22:00
17 December	Wednesday	08:00 – 22:00
18 December	Thursday	08:00 – 22:00
19 December	Friday	08:00 – 22:00
20 December	Saturday	08:00 – 22:00
21 December	Sunday	10:00 – 16:00
22 December	Monday	08:00 – 22:00
23 December	Tuesday	08:00 – 22:00
24 December	Christmas Eve	08:00 – 19:00
25 December	Christmas Day	CLOSED
26 December	Boxing Day	CLOSED
27 December	Saturday	08:00 – 22:00
28 December	Sunday	10:00 – 16:00

New Year 2025 - 2026 Opening Times

Tesco Superstores nationwide typically follow a standard pattern for the New Year. For the Oakham Superstore, you can expect the following:

New Year’s Eve (Tuesday, 31 Dec): Most Superstores will close early, typically around 18:00 or 19:00, to allow staff to celebrate.
New Year’s Day (Wednesday, 1 Jan): check the Tesco Store Locator nearer the day
2 January 2026: Normal trading hours (08:00 – 22:00) usually resume from this date.
Tip: If you are using Click+Collect, remember that these slots often end an hour or two before the main store closes. It is highly recommended to check the Tesco Store Locator for live updates on New Year's Day specifically, as these can be subject to last-minute changes.

Essential Shopping Reminders

Boxing Day Closure: Note that the Oakham Superstore is clearly marked as Closed on Boxing Day this year.

Aldi Oakham Opening Hours

Hackamore Way, Barleythorpe

Date	Day	Opening Hours
22 December	Monday	07:00 – 22:00
23 December	Tuesday	07:00 – 22:00
24 December	Christmas Eve	07:00 – 18:00
25 December	Christmas Day	CLOSED
26 December	Boxing Day	CLOSED
27 December	Saturday	08:00 – 20:00
28 December	Sunday	10:00 – 16:00
31 December	New Year’s Eve	08:00 – 18:00
1 January	New Year’s Day	CLOSED
2 January	Friday	08:00 – 22:00

Lidl Oakham Opening Hours

Barleythorpe Road

Lidl’s hours are very similar, though they traditionally open slightly later than Aldi on Christmas Eve.

Date	Day	Opening Hours
22 December	Monday	07:00 – 22:00
23 December	Tuesday	07:00 – 22:00
24 December	Christmas Eve	07:00 – 18:00
25 December	Christmas Day	CLOSED
26 December	Boxing Day	CLOSED
27 December	Saturday	08:00 – 22:00
31 December	New Year’s Eve	08:00 – 18:00
1 January	New Year’s Day	CLOSED
2 January	Friday	08:00 – 22:00

Central Co-op Burley Road Oakham (Food & Petrol)

The petrol station usually opens at the same time as the store, though "pay at pump" may be available outside these hours if the system allows.

Date	Day	Store & Petrol Station Hours
23 December	Tuesday	07:30 – 21:00
24 December	Christmas Eve	07:00 – 20:00
25 December	Christmas Day	CLOSED
26 December	Boxing Day	09:00 – 17:00
27 December	Saturday	07:30 – 20:00
28 December	Sunday	10:00 – 16:00
31 December	New Year’s Eve	07:00 – 20:00
1 January	New Year’s Day	09:00 – 17:00
2 January	Friday	07:30 – 21:00 (Normal)

Important Details for this Location

Insomnia Cafe: The cafe inside the Burley Road store usually operates on a slightly different schedule. While the store opens at 07:00/07:30, the cafe often starts at 08:00 and closes around 17:00 or 18:00, even when the main store remains open until 20:00.
Fuel Convenience: If you are traveling on Christmas Eve, aim to fill up before 20:00, as most local stations will shut down until the morning of the 26th.
Boxing Day & New Year's Day: This store is a great backup because it remains open on Boxing Day and New Year's Day (unlike Aldi and Lidl), making it ideal for picking up emergency fuel or fresh food when others are closed.

Note: Opening hours can sometimes be adjusted by an hour based on local staff availability. If you are making a special trip for fuel late at night, you can call the store directly at 01572 724344.

Central Co-op Braunston Road Opening Hours

Date	Day	Opening Hours
23 December	Tuesday	07:00 – 22:00
24 December	Christmas Eve	07:00 – 21:00
25 December	Christmas Day	CLOSED
26 December	Boxing Day	08:00 – 18:00
27–30 Dec	"Betwixmas"	07:00 – 22:00 (Normal)
31 December	New Year’s Eve	07:00 – 21:00
1 January	New Year’s Day	08:00 – 18:00
2 January	Friday	07:00 – 22:00

The phone number for the , is:

01572 720593

Uppingham Co-op Festive Opening Hours

22 North Street East, Uppingham, LE15 9QL

The Uppingham Co-op (located on North Street East) is part of the national Co-op Group, the opening hours are different from Oakham's Co-op's

Date	Day	Opening Hours
23 December	Tuesday	06:00 – 22:00
24 December	Christmas Eve	06:00 – 19:00
25 December	Christmas Day	CLOSED
26 December	Boxing Day	10:00 – 19:00
27–30 Dec	"Betwixmas"	06:00 – 22:00 (Normal)
31 December	New Year’s Eve	06:00 – 19:00
1 January	New Year’s Day	10:00 – 19:00
2 January	Friday	06:00 – 22:00

Phone Number: 01572 821903

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