Chesterfield Residents Trapped in "Limbo" as Flooding Risks Persist After Storm Babet

In October 2023, the devastating Storm Babet struck Chesterfield, claiming the life of 83-year-old Maureen Gilbert. Two years later, her neighbors Lisa Thompson and Simon Ball are still grappling with the aftermath, living in constant fear of another flood.

The couple, who have only recently moved back into their home on Tapton Terrace, say they feel "completely abandoned" by the authorities. Despite the Environment Agency's efforts to reduce flooding risks in Chesterfield, the residents of Tapton Terrace remain in a state of "limbo," unsure if their homes will be protected.

A coroner's report issued after Mrs. Gilbert's death raised concerns over the ongoing "risk to life" in the area, but the local council and the Environment Agency have struggled to find a solution. Neighbor David Corey expressed his heartbreak, saying, "None of us can get over what happened to Maureen. I keep thinking of her and how she was alone watching the water rise. I just can't imagine what she must have gone through."

With the threat of future floods looming, the residents of Tapton Terrace are living in a constant state of anxiety. As Ms. Thompson put it, "We're learning to live with a level of anxiety; it's like grief though and it can sometimes catch you unaware." The couple's desperation for action is palpable, as they plead, "We're just desperate for somebody to do something and end this limbo."