The Calderdale Flood Recovery and Resilience Programme has been in place since the flood events in 2012. It brings together a range of partners that include:
- Calderdale Council;
- Environment Agency;
- Canal and River Trust;
- Local Flood groups;
- Yorkshire Water;
- Network Rail;
- the voluntary sector and others.
Its aim is to reduce the impact of flooding in Calderdale. Also, it is to work with local communities to build resilience against future events.
The delivery of the programme is overseen by a Programme Board, which is chaired by the Calderdale Council Leader. Members include local Councillors, the Calderdale Council Chief Executive and the two MPs for the Borough. There are four operational groups that report to it:
- Natural Flood Management.
- Flood Risk Reduction and Investment.
- Resilient Infrastructure.
- Community Resilience.
There is also a Communications subgroup.
The Programme Board meets on a quarterly basis. The public can attend these as observers, with the chance to ask questions at the end.
For agendas and reports for previous and future meetings, see: Search agendas and reports.
Calderdale Flood Action Plan
Since January 2016, the Environment Agency, on behalf of the Calderdale Flood Recovery and Resilience Programme, has worked with Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council and the community to produce a flood action plan for Calderdale.
The plan has since undergone a number of updates with the latest version showing completed, revised and new actions.
Actions range from flood defence schemes such as those listed below to natural flood management projects and community initiatives.
To see the latest progress on partners actions you can view the Calderdale Flood Action Plan.
Flood defence works
Flood Risk Reduction Schemes (FRRS)
The Council is working in partnership with the Environment Agency and contractors to deliver Flood Risk Reduction Schemes (FRRS) 1 and 2 across the borough. On completion, these schemes will give important drainage and other flood relief measures. This will help eradicate damaging run-off waters from steep sided valleys, as well as overflow from the river and canal.
FRRS 1 schemes at Bacup Road, Shop Lock, Nutclough, Woodland View, Pin Hill and Burnt Acres Wood are complete. The Park Road scheme in Elland will no longer be progressed. The scheme is being reviewed to see if less costly property level protection solutions can be developed.
The Environment Agency-led FRRS 2 Group A projects (Copley, Shaw Wood Road, Machpelah and Calderside) have funding approval to progress to Full Business Case (FBC). The Calderdale Council-led projects (Railes Close, Cottonstones) are progressing with site investigation and hydraulic analysis complete.
In Group B, the strategic outline business case for Hebble Brook (Dean Clough) has been approved. Sowerby Bridge has received £1.7m of funding from central government and will now be progressed as a standalone project. Calderdale Council has commissioned further hydraulic modelling for the Rossendale View project.
Draft strategic outline business cases have been written for schemes in Todmorden under Group C. (Commercial Street, Cross Stone Rd and Oak Hill Clough). We are also looking at a possible develop scheme for Walsden, with partners.
Flood Alleviation Schemes (FAS)
Mytholmroyd FAS. Construction of the Mytholmroyd FAS is well underway with the new footbridge, flood defence walls and glass panels now complete on the Cragg Brook section of the scheme. The new Caldene Bridge is taking shape and the new flood walls, including glass panels adjacent to Burnley Road, are complete in several locations. Completion of the wider scheme is now forecast to be Summer 2020, although the team continues to assess ways to bring this forward.
Hebden Bridge FAS. Conditional inspections and structural surveys have been completed for the scheme. This consists of flood walls, surface water interventions and glass panels/raising barriers. Further surveys will determine design requirements. In the light of a recent announcement about further government funding for the scheme, the proposals for Stubbing Holme Road and Erringden Hillside will be progressed to full business case.
Brighouse FAS. The ecology survey and environmental assessment have been submitted for review and the project team is reviewing the construction programme. Ground investigation work is due to commence in January 2020. Scheme elements include the repair, replacement and improvement of flood defences along the River Calder and Clifton Beck and measures in Wellholme Park to contain Clifton Beck. The project will better protect 39 homes and 519 businesses and reduce the flood risk to local main roads.
For more on works or the partnership, contact:
- Flood Risk Management Team.
- Email: flooding@calderdale.gov.uk.
- Phone: 01422 288001.