8 Sep 2025 Maureen Gilbert · Prevention of Future Deaths report Derby and Derbyshire
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Concerns raised 1
Lack of flood defences at Tapton Terrace View source
Linked responses
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Derbyshire County Council Environment Agency
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised. 15
Derbyshire County Council
Explore the feasibility of removing the access bridge, using Environment Agency modelling and evidence to assess whether removal would reduce flood risk.
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Derbyshire County Council
Submit grant funding bids to support a feasibility study for a Spital Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme.
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Derbyshire County Council
Explore the feasibility of constructing a Spital Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme providing upstream attenuation during heavy rainfall.
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Environment Agency
Commence a Strategic Outline Case study in 2026 to reassess technically feasible, environmentally acceptable and cost-beneficial flood-defence options at Tapton Terrace.
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Environment Agency
Continue working with flood-risk partners to develop natural flood-management and storage schemes upstream within the River Rother catchment.
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Environment Agency
Lead appraisal of the River Hipper Flood Alleviation Scheme to assess upstream floodwater storage and potential flood-risk reduction.
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Environment Agency
Continue winter maintenance walkovers of the river channel at Tapton Terrace and take action on identified vegetation-management needs.
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Environment Agency
Carry out updated modelling in 2026 to support Derbyshire County Council’s study of the flood-risk benefits of removing Crow Lane Bridge.
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Environment Agency
Conducted river-channel surveys in 2024 to compare the Tapton Terrace channel profile with earlier surveys and inform flood-risk management.
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Environment Agency
Replaced and launched the more advanced, user-focused and resilient ‘Get flood warnings’ service on GOV.UK.
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Environment Agency
Continue improving Flood Warning Service systems and processes, including working with communities to increase warning-service sign-up rates.
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Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Increase investment in flood-risk reduction.
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Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Change the rules governing allocation of flood-risk funding.
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Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Press the Environment Agency Chief Executive to undertake a Strategic Outline Case for Tapton Terrace in 2026.
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Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Meet Derbyshire County Council and Environment Agency leaders to discuss flood protection in Chesterfield before winter.
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AI-generated summary
Maureen Gilbert · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
Maureen Gilbert, who was 83 years old, drowned in her home on 21 October 2023 after flood waters entered her property during Storm Babet. The report raises concern that the absence of flood defences at Tapton Terrace leaves residents, particularly those who may be elderly, vulnerable or immobile, at risk of life.
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How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of flood defences at Tapton Terrace
Wider context from the report “Following the flood damage to Tapton Terrace in 2007, the Environment Agency’s pre-feasibility study identified a number of technically feasible options that would reduce the flood risk at Tapton Terrace. None of these measures were implemented principally due to cost reasons. When Storm Babet hit in October 2023, Tapton Terrace remained in the same position that it was in back in 2007. Due to the ongoing lack of flood defences, Tapton Terrace remains vulnerable to flooding. I am concerned that this gives rise to a risk to life, particularly in respect of residents who may be elderly, vulnerable or immobile.
” Source location Maureen Gilbert · Prevention of Future Deaths report
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Explore the feasibility of removing the access bridge, using Environment Agency modelling and evidence to assess whether removal would reduce flood risk.
Verbatim wording from the response “DCC is currently exploring the feasibility of removing an access bridge, which is located over the River Rother, just to the south of Tapton Terrace. The access bridge is public highway and is the responsibility of the authority to manage and maintain. Removal of the access bridge may provide a benefit in terms of reducing the flood risk to Tapton Terrace and surrounding flood areas. There would be a requirement to utilise the EA’s modelling and expertise, in order to evidence that removal of the bridge will actually reduce the flood risk. To explain what modelling is, the EA have river models which simulate the flows and depths over a range of different storm events, which can be used to aid feasibility and design of a flood risk scheme.” Source location Response from Derbyshire County Council
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Submit grant funding bids to support a feasibility study for a Spital Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme.
Verbatim wording from the response “DCC is also exploring the feasibility of constructing a Flood Alleviation Scheme on the Spital Brook, which is an ordinary watercourse (rather than a main river) and would therefore fall under the remit of DCC as the Lead Local Flood Authority to consider, rather than the EA. The scheme would provide upstream attenuation in times of heavy rainfall, thereby potentially reducing the flood risk further downstream, at the point it connects into the River Rother. To date, two grant funding bids have been submitted which would fund the feasibility study of such a scheme. The outcome of these two bids is expected to be around February/March 2026. It’s worth noting that a scheme of this magnitude would take approximately 5 to 10 years to deliver and is subject to appropriate funding being made available.” Source location Response from Derbyshire County Council
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Explore the feasibility of constructing a Spital Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme providing upstream attenuation during heavy rainfall.
Verbatim wording from the response “DCC is also exploring the feasibility of constructing a Flood Alleviation Scheme on the Spital Brook, which is an ordinary watercourse (rather than a main river) and would therefore fall under the remit of DCC as the Lead Local Flood Authority to consider, rather than the EA. The scheme would provide upstream attenuation in times of heavy rainfall, thereby potentially reducing the flood risk further downstream, at the point it connects into the River Rother. To date, two grant funding bids have been submitted which would fund the feasibility study of such a scheme. The outcome of these two bids is expected to be around February/March 2026. It’s worth noting that a scheme of this magnitude would take approximately 5 to 10 years to deliver and is subject to appropriate funding being made available.” Source location Response from Derbyshire County Council
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Commence a Strategic Outline Case study in 2026 to reassess technically feasible, environmentally acceptable and cost-beneficial flood-defence options at Tapton Terrace.
Verbatim wording from the response “However, from April 2026 we anticipate that revised appraisal and funding rules will be brought into effect that might result in a different outcome at pre-feasibility stage. Therefore, we propose to undertake a further study (now referred to as Strategic Outline Case) to reassess the technically feasible, environmentally acceptable, and cost beneficial flood defence options at Tapton Terrace under the new rules when in force. The study will involve carrying out updated modelling and appraisal work. We are of course unable to predict the outcome of the study or guarantee that this will result in a feasible and affordable flood defence scheme being delivered at Tapton Terrace, however we will commence the process of undertaking the study in 2026.” Source location Response from Environment Agency
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How this respondent action was interpreted
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PFD Monitor interpretation Continue working with flood-risk partners to develop natural flood-management and storage schemes upstream within the River Rother catchment.
Verbatim wording from the response “We are continuing to work with flood risk partners such as Derbyshire County Council to develop other flood alleviation schemes, including further natural flood management and storage within the River Rother catchment upstream of Tapton Terrace. Such an approach is consistent with the Agency’s Catchment Flood Management Plan for Chesterfield.” Source location Response from Environment Agency
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How this respondent action was interpreted
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PFD Monitor interpretation Lead appraisal of the River Hipper Flood Alleviation Scheme to assess upstream floodwater storage and potential flood-risk reduction.
Verbatim wording from the response “We are currently leading the appraisal of the River Hipper Flood Alleviation Scheme. The scheme would contribute to a further reduction in flood risk to the community at Tapton Terrace through the storage of floodwaters upstream, thereby reducing peak flows.” Source location Response from Environment Agency
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How this respondent action was interpreted
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PFD Monitor interpretation Continue winter maintenance walkovers of the river channel at Tapton Terrace and take action on identified vegetation-management needs.
Verbatim wording from the response “We will continue to carry out winter maintenance walkovers of the river channel at Tapton Terrace to check the need for vegetation management as part of our ongoing risk management of main river channels and take action accordingly.” Source location Response from Environment Agency
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Carry out updated modelling in 2026 to support Derbyshire County Council’s study of the flood-risk benefits of removing Crow Lane Bridge.
Verbatim wording from the response “We are working with Derbyshire County Council to support them with their investigations into the removal of the Crow Lane Bridge, which is a County Council adopted highway asset. In 2026, we will include updated modelling work as part of the study to be prepared by the County Council in order to assist their technical understanding of the flood risk benefits of removing the bridge. As noted in the Pre-Feasibility Study in 2008, removal of the bridge may provide some limited benefit to the area immediately upstream of Tapton Terrace itself.” Source location Response from Environment Agency
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How this respondent action was interpreted
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PFD Monitor interpretation Conducted river-channel surveys in 2024 to compare the Tapton Terrace channel profile with earlier surveys and inform flood-risk management.
Verbatim wording from the response “As you know from the evidence we presented, the Agency carried out river channel surveys in 2024 following Storm Babet in order to compare the river channel against earlier surveys carried out in 2011. The 2024 surveys demonstrated that the profile of the river channel has remained static with negligible changes over the period since 2011. Based upon this evidence, we remain of the view that dredging the river channel at Tapton Terrace would not provide any flood risk benefit to the community. If there is a more significant increase in the level of the riverbed or other significant changes in profile in the future, then the Agency would work with riparian owners to assess whether dredging works would be possible and take action where necessary.” Source location Response from Environment Agency
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How this respondent action was interpreted
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PFD Monitor interpretation Replaced and launched the more advanced, user-focused and resilient ‘Get flood warnings’ service on GOV.UK.
Verbatim wording from the response “After flood events we validate the accuracy of our flood warnings and make improvements where necessary. Over time we also improve our IT systems that provide the warnings and improve our flood forecasting models that predict the timing and extent of flooding. In response to the increasing challenges posed by future flood risks we have replaced our existing ‘Sign up for flood warnings’ service on GOV.UK with a more advanced, user-focused, and resilient service.” Source location Response from Environment Agency
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Continue improving Flood Warning Service systems and processes, including working with communities to increase warning-service sign-up rates.
Verbatim wording from the response “The Agency will continue to take action to improve our systems and processes in order to provide the best Flood Warning Service that we can, which includes working with communities to improve sign-up rates. We will continue to work with national experts and decision makers to improve flood resilience and to create climate resilience in line with our national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy.” Source location Response from Environment Agency
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How this respondent action was interpreted
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PFD Monitor interpretation Increase investment in flood-risk reduction.
Verbatim wording from the response “Flooding devastates communities. We take our responsibility in reducing these risks extremely seriously and we have acted to increase investment, change the rules around how funding for flooding is allocated and set up a Flood Resilience Taskforce to improve how prepared the country is for flooding.” Source location Response from Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Change the rules governing allocation of flood-risk funding.
Verbatim wording from the response “Flooding devastates communities. We take our responsibility in reducing these risks extremely seriously and we have acted to increase investment, change the rules around how funding for flooding is allocated and set up a Flood Resilience Taskforce to improve how prepared the country is for flooding.” Source location Response from Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Press the Environment Agency Chief Executive to undertake a Strategic Outline Case for Tapton Terrace in 2026.
Verbatim wording from the response “Taking into account the findings from your report, the fact that 18 years have passed since the last pre-feasibility study and with the introduction of new appraisal and funding rules, I agree with the Environment Agency’s conclusion that a new pre-feasibility study (which is now referred to as a Strategic Outline Case) should be taken forward and will underline to the Environment Agency’s Chief Executive, when we next meet, that this should be undertaken in 2026. As the Environment Agency’s response sets out, if a viable option is identified, it can then be considered for funding under the new, more straightforward funding rules, which take effect in April 2026.” Source location Response from Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Meet Derbyshire County Council and Environment Agency leaders to discuss flood protection in Chesterfield before winter.
Verbatim wording from the response “Moving forward from here, as Minister for Water and Flooding, I remain committed to helping increase the resilience of Tapton Terrace, Chesterfield and the whole country to flooding. Having met with Toby Perkins MP, I will also meet with Chris Henning (Executive Director at Derbyshire County Council) and Philip Duffy (Chief Executive at the Environment Agency) to discuss flood protection in Chesterfield ahead of this winter.” Source location Response from Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
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How this respondent position was interpreted
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PFD Monitor interpretation Responsibility for managing flood risk from the River Rother main river rests primarily with the Environment Agency.
Verbatim wording from the response “Derbyshire County Council (“DCC”) in its capacity as Lead Local Flood Authority (Floods and Water Management Act 2010) has the lead responsibility for managing local flood risk, from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. The Environment Agency is responsible for taking a strategic overview of the management of all sources of flooding and coastal erosion.” Source location Response from Derbyshire County Council
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How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Bridge removal cannot yet be considered without Environment Agency modelling and evidence demonstrating that it would reduce flood risk.
Verbatim wording from the response “DCC is currently exploring the feasibility of removing an access bridge, which is located over the River Rother, just to the south of Tapton Terrace. The access bridge is public highway and is the responsibility of the authority to manage and maintain. Removal of the access bridge may provide a benefit in terms of reducing the flood risk to Tapton Terrace and surrounding flood areas. There would be a requirement to utilise the EA’s modelling and expertise, in order to evidence that removal of the bridge will actually reduce the flood risk. To explain what modelling is, the EA have river models which simulate the flows and depths over a range of different storm events, which can be used to aid feasibility and design of a flood risk scheme.” Source location Response from Derbyshire County Council
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How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Flood mitigation schemes depend on government grant funding, and delivery cannot proceed without appropriate funding being available.
Verbatim wording from the response “DCC is also exploring the feasibility of constructing a Flood Alleviation Scheme on the Spital Brook, which is an ordinary watercourse (rather than a main river) and would therefore fall under the remit of DCC as the Lead Local Flood Authority to consider, rather than the EA. The scheme would provide upstream attenuation in times of heavy rainfall, thereby potentially reducing the flood risk further downstream, at the point it connects into the River Rother. To date, two grant funding bids have been submitted which would fund the feasibility study of such a scheme. The outcome of these two bids is expected to be around February/March 2026. It’s worth noting that a scheme of this magnitude would take approximately 5 to 10 years to deliver and is subject to appropriate funding being made available.” Source location Response from Derbyshire County Council
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How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Flood defence options cannot currently be delivered because appraisal rules and increased construction costs make them unaffordable.
Verbatim wording from the response “The Tapton Terrace Pre-Feasibility Study from April 2008 recommended that the proposed storage areas on the River Hipper and at the Avenue were taken forward to feasibility stage or beyond. The Pre-Feasibility Study confirmed that there were no affordable options to deliver flood defences at Tapton Terrace. Based upon the existing appraisal and funding rules that must be followed, together with the huge increase in construction costs in recent years, the options remain unaffordable.” Source location Response from Environment Agency
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How this respondent position was interpreted
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PFD Monitor interpretation Based on 2024 surveys, dredging the river channel would not provide flood-risk benefit to Tapton Terrace.
Verbatim wording from the response “Improving the capacity of a river channel can help to reduce flood risk by improving channel conveyance. Improvements can include raising the height of, or removing, constraints such as bridges. Improvements can also include maintenance activities such as dredging and vegetation management. Before being carried out, the Agency would consider any downstream impacts that might arise so that flood risk is not increased downstream, as well an assessment of their overall sustainability.” Source location Response from Environment Agency
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How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Compulsory purchase of Tapton Terrace properties cannot be undertaken because no feasible flood scheme requires their removal.
Verbatim wording from the response “Compulsory purchase is a legal function that allows certain public bodies to acquire land or rights over land for a specific purpose, if the landowner is not willing to sell by agreement. Conceivably, the appropriate public body could seek to compulsory purchase all the properties at Tapton Terrace in order to eliminate the risk to life from flooding at this location. The purchase of the properties would be carried out through a Compulsory Purchase Order. The Environment Agency has compulsory purchase powers, but these can only be used as part of the delivery of a flood risk management scheme, for example where a flood defence needs to be built in the same location of an existing property. As there is currently no feasible flood scheme at Tapton Terrace requiring the removal of the houses, we would not be able to use our compulsory purchase powers in this instance.” Source location Response from Environment Agency
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How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Dredging the river channel at Tapton Terrace would not provide flood-risk benefit, based on the Environment Agency’s 2024 evidence.
Verbatim wording from the response “Dredging is one further option considered by the Environment Agency. Dredging and main river clearance is an important part of the Environment Agency’s wider annual programme of channel maintenance work. Before undertaking dredging, the Environment Agency works in close consultation with local communities to assess whether it is technically achievable, cost effective, and does not significantly increase flood risk for others downstream. The response from Environment Agency explains why, on the basis of evidence from 2024, they believe dredging the river channel at Tapton Terrace would not provide any flood risk benefit to the community.” Source location Response from Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
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Concerns raised 1
Known flood risk in the area View source
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised. 3
National Highways
Complete flood-risk drainage maintenance, including vegetation and detritus clearance, gully jetting, sweeping, inlet checks and overburden removal.
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National Highways
Review resurfacing extents and assess drainage improvements to remove the rolling-crown flat spot and improve flow into gullies.
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National Highways
Reinstate and retain the “Road liable to flooding” sign until drainage actions and monitoring are complete, subject to drainage-engineer consent.
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AI-generated summary
James Alexander SCOTT · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
James Alexander Scott died at the scene after his Vauxhall Corsa lost control on standing water during a road traffic collision on the A33 on 5 July 2024. The standing water was identified as a contributory factor, with concerns about the known flood risk, blocked drainage gullies, maintenance frequency, and the presence of only a temporary warning sign.
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How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Known flood risk in the area
Wider context from the report “(1) The area is a known flood risk
” Source location James Alexander SCOTT · Prevention of Future Deaths report
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Complete flood-risk drainage maintenance, including vegetation and detritus clearance, gully jetting, sweeping, inlet checks and overburden removal.
Verbatim wording from the response “The first drainage flood risk site visit of financial year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 was ordered on 23 April 2024 with a six-month window for completion. The work was completed on 31 August 2024. The drainage flood risk site visit prior to this was carried out on 23 November 2023 which was flood risk site visit two for the previous financial year.” Source location Response from National Highway Agency
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Review resurfacing extents and assess drainage improvements to remove the rolling-crown flat spot and improve flow into gullies.
Verbatim wording from the response “8. A review of resurfacing extents within the M3 J9 scheme as the program currently stops approximately 25 metres short of the current NH boundary and an extension will avoid a double joint in a short distance.” Source location Response from National Highway Agency
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Reinstate and retain the “Road liable to flooding” sign until drainage actions and monitoring are complete, subject to drainage-engineer consent.
Verbatim wording from the response “At the first site visit on 28 August 2025, it was noted that the sign had been laid down on the verge, this was reinstated by NH that day. The M3 J9 scheme has been instructed to ensure the sign remains in place until instructed to be removed by the NH Operations Directorate South East Drainage team upon completion of the actions proposed and a suitable period of monitoring.” Source location Response from National Highway Agency
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How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation No further signage action is currently required because extensive M3 J9 traffic management and signage are in place.
Verbatim wording from the response “No further signage action required at present due to extensive M3 J9 scheme traffic management and signage now in place. M3 J9 scheme to ensure that “Road liable to flooding” sign is not removed without prior consent of NH drainage engineers.” Source location Response from National Highway Agency
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Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.