City museum calls for more flood defences to avoid a repeat closure

STORM BABET LED TO A THREE-MONTH CLOSURE AND SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION

- By NIGEL SLATER [e-mail]

A POPULAR Derby museum has called for more flood protection measures to avoid a repeat of a heartbreaking closure caused by severe rainfall.

The Museum of Making, next to the River Derwent, was closed for several months following major flooding almost two years ago.

The city centre museum, which celebrates Derby's heritage and renowned engineering history, was closed for around three months after Storm Babet in October 2023 - covering the landmark building with around 70 centimetres of flood water.

At the time, Tony Butler, executive director of Derby Museums Trust, said a "six-figure" sum had been mostly paid by the building's insurance cover to help get it back up and running.