Chesterfield Inquest Reveals Lack of Flood Defences in Fatal Storm Babet Incident
Published 1 September 2025
Highlights
- Maureen Gilbert, 83, drowned in her Chesterfield home during Storm Babet due to a lack of formal flood defences.
- The River Rother overflowed, affecting about 400 homes and leaving thousands without power across the UK.
- Environment Agency's Neil Longden highlighted funding and planning as barriers to implementing flood defences in high-risk areas like Tapton Terrace.
- A storage reservoir was installed in 2018 to mitigate flooding, but it was the only significant measure since severe flooding in 2007.
- The inquest into Mrs. Gilbert's death is ongoing, with her son expressing frustration over inadequate flood protection.
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Rewritten Article
Chesterfield Inquest Reveals Lack of Flood Defences in Fatal Storm Babet Incident
An inquest has revealed that the home of Maureen Gilbert, an 83-year-old woman who drowned during Storm Babet, lacked formal flood defences. Mrs. Gilbert was discovered by her son, Paul Gilbert, "floating in the water" inside her residence on Tapton Terrace, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, on October 21, 2023. The River Rother had burst its banks, leading to widespread flooding in the area.
High Flood Risk and Lack of Defences
During the inquest at Chesterfield Coroner's Court, Neil Longden, operations manager for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, testified that Tapton Terrace is particularly vulnerable to flooding. The area lies on low land and is a confluence point for multiple water sources. Despite these risks, no formal flood defences were in place. Longden explained that while solutions exist, funding and planning challenges often impede their implementation. "There is a feasible solution to the problem but funding, and potentially the planning process, may put that at risk," he stated.
Impact of Storm Babet
Storm Babet was described by Longden as "one of the most significant storms" he had encountered, with its intense rainfall causing the River Rother to overflow. The storm resulted in the evacuation of approximately 400 homes in Chesterfield and left thousands across the UK without power. Mrs. Gilbert was one of at least seven fatalities attributed to the storm.
Previous Measures and Community Efforts
The inquest heard that a storage reservoir was installed downstream of the River Rother in 2018 to help manage peak water flow during heavy rainfall. However, this was the only significant flood mitigation measure taken since the severe flooding in 2007. Paul Gilbert recounted his efforts to protect his mother's home with makeshift defences, a practice he had maintained since 2007. "Everybody on the street did as much as they could," he said, expressing frustration over the lack of formal protection.
Ongoing Inquest and Community Impact
The inquest, which is expected to last five days, continues to explore the circumstances surrounding Mrs. Gilbert's death. The Derbyshire police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, although the matter is being handled locally. As the community grapples with the aftermath of Storm Babet, the need for improved flood defences remains a pressing concern.
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Scenario Analysis
The inquest into Maureen Gilbert's death may prompt a reevaluation of flood defence strategies in high-risk areas like Chesterfield. If funding and planning barriers can be addressed, it could lead to the implementation of more robust flood protection measures. The case also highlights the broader issue of flood risk management across the UK, potentially influencing future policy decisions. As climate change continues to increase the frequency and intensity of storms, the need for comprehensive and proactive flood defence strategies becomes ever more critical.
An inquest has revealed that the home of Maureen Gilbert, an 83-year-old woman who drowned during Storm Babet, lacked formal flood defences. Mrs. Gilbert was discovered by her son, Paul Gilbert, "floating in the water" inside her residence on Tapton Terrace, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, on October 21, 2023. The River Rother had burst its banks, leading to widespread flooding in the area.
High Flood Risk and Lack of Defences
During the inquest at Chesterfield Coroner's Court, Neil Longden, operations manager for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, testified that Tapton Terrace is particularly vulnerable to flooding. The area lies on low land and is a confluence point for multiple water sources. Despite these risks, no formal flood defences were in place. Longden explained that while solutions exist, funding and planning challenges often impede their implementation. "There is a feasible solution to the problem but funding, and potentially the planning process, may put that at risk," he stated.
Impact of Storm Babet
Storm Babet was described by Longden as "one of the most significant storms" he had encountered, with its intense rainfall causing the River Rother to overflow. The storm resulted in the evacuation of approximately 400 homes in Chesterfield and left thousands across the UK without power. Mrs. Gilbert was one of at least seven fatalities attributed to the storm.
Previous Measures and Community Efforts
The inquest heard that a storage reservoir was installed downstream of the River Rother in 2018 to help manage peak water flow during heavy rainfall. However, this was the only significant flood mitigation measure taken since the severe flooding in 2007. Paul Gilbert recounted his efforts to protect his mother's home with makeshift defences, a practice he had maintained since 2007. "Everybody on the street did as much as they could," he said, expressing frustration over the lack of formal protection.
Ongoing Inquest and Community Impact
The inquest, which is expected to last five days, continues to explore the circumstances surrounding Mrs. Gilbert's death. The Derbyshire police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, although the matter is being handled locally. As the community grapples with the aftermath of Storm Babet, the need for improved flood defences remains a pressing concern.
What this might mean
The inquest into Maureen Gilbert's death may prompt a reevaluation of flood defence strategies in high-risk areas like Chesterfield. If funding and planning barriers can be addressed, it could lead to the implementation of more robust flood protection measures. The case also highlights the broader issue of flood risk management across the UK, potentially influencing future policy decisions. As climate change continues to increase the frequency and intensity of storms, the need for comprehensive and proactive flood defence strategies becomes ever more critical.
