Lack of Flood Defences Blamed in Tragic Drowning During Storm Babet
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 cited funding and planning challenges as barriers to building flood defences.
- A storage reservoir was installed in 2018 to mitigate flooding, but it was the only significant measure since 2007.
- The inquest into Gilbert's death is ongoing, with Derbyshire police conducting a local investigation.
An inquest has revealed that the absence of formal flood defences contributed to the tragic drowning of Maureen Gilbert, 83, during Storm Babet in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Gilbert was found by her son on October 21, 2023, after the River Rother burst its banks, inundating her home on Tapton Terrace.
Storm Babet's Devastating Impact
Storm Babet wreaked havoc across the UK, leaving thousands without power and causing significant flooding. In Chesterfield, approximately 400 homes were evacuated as the River Rother overflowed. The Environment Agency's operations manager for Yorkshire, Neil Longden, testified at Chesterfield Coroner's Court, highlighting the high flood risk in the area due to its low-lying position and convergence of multiple water sources.
Challenges in Flood Defence Implementation
Despite the evident risk, Tapton Terrace lacked formal flood defences. Longden explained that while solutions exist, financial and planning hurdles impede their implementation. "You can build something, but someone has to pay for it," he stated, noting the widespread challenge of flood risk management across the UK.
Previous Measures and Current Inquest
In 2018, a storage reservoir was installed downstream of the River Rother to reduce peak flow during heavy rainfall. However, Longden acknowledged this as the only significant measure taken since severe flooding in 2007. Gilbert's son, Paul, recounted his efforts to protect his mother's home with makeshift defences, a practice he had maintained since the 2007 floods. "Rebuilding after the 2007 flood was hard for us and her, but this is just devastating," he shared.
The inquest, which began on Monday, is expected to continue for five days. Derbyshire police, who responded to the flooding, have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, with the matter being handled locally.
What this might mean
The ongoing inquest into Maureen Gilbert's death could prompt a reevaluation of flood risk management strategies in the UK, particularly in high-risk areas like Chesterfield. Experts may call for increased investment in flood defences and a streamlined planning process to prevent similar tragedies. Politically, the case could intensify pressure on local and national authorities to prioritize infrastructure improvements and climate resilience measures. As the inquest unfolds, it may also influence public discourse on the adequacy of current flood prevention policies and the need for urgent action in the face of increasingly severe weather events.
