Storm Babet: Major clean-up works start as three severe flood warnings still pose danger to life in Derbyshire

Traffic Monitoring website Inrix has reported that Mill Lane at Kirkby In Ashfield is closed in both ways due to flooding from Laburnum Avenue to Mapplewells.

This comes as drivers have been urged to travel only if essential as more and more roads are covered in deep water.

Drivers have been urged to travel only if essential as more and more roads are covered in deep water.

Director of Highways, Julian Gould, said: “We’ve been working together for the past few days to prepare for Storm Babet, and the flooding it could cause.

“We’d urge people only to travel for essential journeys from now until later on Saturday, and never to drive or walk through flood waters.

“Once roads get overwhelmed by flood water we will work with the Police and act to close them by putting up barriers, but we ask everyone not to move the barriers once they are up. The waves created by vehicles in these flooded areas just cause more issues for those homes and businesses at the side of them.”

Derbyshire County Council is urging people to take care when out and about over the next 48 hours as heavy rainfall from Storm Babet is causing flooding across the county.

Heavy rainfall is forecast until 6am Saturday October 21, as Met Office put amber weather warning in place. With the ground already saturated flooding from rivers is already causing issues on the roads.

Multiple roads could flood, particularly those next to rivers, with many main roads expected to close.

The council is working with all the district and borough councils, and all the emergency services to coordinate work across Derbyshire.

District and borough councils have been filling sandbags, the county council has been out over the past few days clearing drains in known flooding hotspots.

Residents are urged to report life threatening events to the Police by calling 999. Any issues on the roads, such as trees down or flooding can be reported to the council at derbyshire.gov.uk/reportit

The county council, and district and borough councils have extra employees on call over the weekend.

Households and businesses in known flooding areas are encouraged to start to take steps to protect their properties.

Government website has reported that river levels are rising rapidly on the River Rother in Tapton.

Flooding is forecast this morning, Friday October 20, in areas adjacent to Tapton Bridge, Tapton incluiding properties along Tapton Terrace and Brimington Road.

Rainfall is expected throughout today and river levels are expected to remain high.

Chesterfield Road in Grassmoor has been flooded this morning - with drivers having to brave standing water.

Traffic monitoring website Inrix has reported that Park Lane (B6018) in Selston is closed in both ways as heavy traffic builds up due to flooding from The Hollies to Lower Portland.

The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning – meaning flooding is expected – for the River Erewash at Langley Mill and Ilkeston

The warning says: “River levels are forecast to rise at the Pinxton river gauge as a result of Storm BABET. Consequently, flooding of property is expected to begin between 06:45 and 7:45 today, 20/10/23. Areas most at risk are Langley Mill, and Shipley Gate, including Derby Road, and Cromford Road. Further heavy rainfall is forecast over the next 24 hours. We expect river levels to remain high until 06:00 on 21/10/23.

“We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff are patrolling watercourses in the area and liaising with emergency services.”