Business looking to move on up to combat the floods

Russell Dean furniture store in Burnley Road had its lower showroom completely ruined after the Boxing Day floods, leaving them to scrap tonnes of waterlogged stock.

Calderdale Council holds the long leasehold of this free public car park on the residue of a 999 year lease and is proposing to assign it to owners Stokers Ltd to allow them to future proof the furniture showroom against further damage from flooding by building over it at first floor level and above but retaining the ground floor level as a free public car park.

Cabinet members agreed to begin negotiations with the store owners who will now to look progress with plans.

Councillor Barry Collins said it was important the Council supported business and business people who have decided to stay in their communities:

“One of the businesses affected in the boxing day floods was Russell Dean Furniture which was also flooded in 2012. The floods this time were far more damaging.

“Large parts of the building are still closed. They could have decided to close the store and move out but they have done the exact opposite. They have decided to stay in the town and want to extend their extensive showroom.

“From the designs being proposed there would be more car parking space underneath the showroom.”

However, Coun Jill Smith- Moorhouse was against the proposals saying that the car park played an important role in the flood recovery and was used by residents opposite the business.

She also said the village fought to keep parking charges out of the car park for the long term benefit of the town but also customers who use the site to park their vehicles and catch the bus to go shopping in Halifax and Hebden Bridge because of the parking problems there.

Coun Collins replied saying the car park would still be free from charge and used by the residents.