Campaign shows Calderdale is back in business

Calderdale businesses are bouncing back after the devastating Boxing Day floods.
Boxing day flood in Hebden Bridge. Lloyds Bank an island in Albert Street.Boxing day flood in Hebden Bridge. Lloyds Bank an island in Albert Street.
Boxing day flood in Hebden Bridge. Lloyds Bank an island in Albert Street.

To make sure this message travels far and wide Calderdale Council is running a marketing campaign targeting tourists, visitors and the business community..

A poster campaign, with the headline Adventure Awaits and using the Pretty Gritty branding, has been running at railway stations in Todmorden, Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge, Brighouse and Leeds and at Manchester Airport, to catch the eye of regional and international travellers.

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One company which demonstrates the grittiness of local businesses is Bridgefield Garage in Elland. On Boxing Day, the manager, Clive Braithwaite, found the canal flowing through the back door of the building and only had an hour to save any equipment from the rising water.

Clive said: “We had to close the business for the first week so that we could clean up. Thankfully we got the £2500 grant from the Council, which really helped. The main problem we’ve had is reminding people that we’re still here even though Elland Bridge is closed. Again, the Council has really helped us with signage and support with promotions to let people know that we’re back.”

Coun Barry Collins, cabinet member or regeneration and economic development, said: “Our communities have done an amazing job at getting our towns back open for business in the aftermath of the unprecedented floods of December 2015. To show our support for local businesses we’ve invested in a campaign which reminds people that we’re a great place to visit.”

On Saturday, May 21 an All about Elland event is taking place from 10am along Southgate, with a street market and a range of entertainment. There will also an Alternative Christmas Day which will mark the six month anniversary of the floods on Saturday, June 25 in Hebden Bridge.

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Companies can also use a #hashtag on Twitter to show they are back in business. To get involved businesses can tweet a photograph of their open premises and using #PopInToCalderdale. The council will share them through its social media channels, including Twitter and Facebook.