Campaigners demand Calderdale recovery plan in place post pandemic

The letter, organised by the Build Back Better campaign and co-ordinated by Calderdale Green New Deal, was delivered to Calder Valley Conservative MP Craig Whittaker and Halifax Labour MP Holly Lynch.

It demands a recovery plan that protects public services, tackles inequality across the community, provides secure well-paid jobs and creates a shockproof economy which can fight the climate crisis.

The letter has been co-signed by more than40 community groups, local businesses and councillors from across Calderdale.

It stresses the importance of investing in the NHS and social care, tackling the climate crisis, and creating green jobs.

Among the councillor signatories are Coun Scott Patient (Lab, Luddenden Foot), who is the Cabinet member for Climate Change and the Environment and Liberal Democrat Group Leader Coun James Baker (Warley).

Signatories who have commented on the letter include Hazel McGrath, of Calderdale People’s Assembly Against Austerity, who said: “We can’t go back to business-as-usual after the pandemic. We need to create an economy that works for everyone.

“At the heart of the Covid-19 recovery, we need a green new deal that will help us tackle the climate crisis and create millions of well-paid green jobs to tackle rising unemployment.”

Ian Thurley, chief executive of 125-year-old Brighouse company Siddall and Hilton Products Ltd said: “Building Back Better means the government focusing infrastructure investments in deprived areas like ours.

“It means utilising local companies to build it, creating quality, secure, employment and supporting local manufacturing.

“We want to build a 21st century factory incorporating state-of-the-art green technologies to meet our climate targets – but we need government support to do it.”

Lauren Iredale, a Sowerby Bridge resident, said flooding had shown how afterwards people knew how to rebuild as a community.

“Year on year, we’ve seen devastating floods in the valley.

“We already know the pain of seeing our homes, businesses and natural habitats destroyed.

“But the next day, we come together to help repair the damage.”

MPs are due to return to Parliament from their summer recess next week, and the community want to make sure a green and fair recovery plan is top of their agenda, said the campaigners.

The event is part of the national Build Back Better campaign, which fights for “a green and socially just recovery” from the coronavirus pandemic.

The full list of Calderdale signatories is: Ian M. Thurley, Chief Executive, Siddall & Hilton Products Ltd; John Wright, Director, The Chapman Group; Andrew Bramley, Bramleys Mortgage Services; John Andrea, Paradise Framing; David Mansley, Fast Door Direct Ltd; James Titterington, Managing Director, The Mill Group; Louise Lupton, Company Secretary of Hoyles of Todmorden; Rob Costello, Director of Friendly Soap; Jay Rutovitz, Energy Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures; Kai Krause, owner, Waterside Gym; Elsa, Judith, Janet and Hannah, Lead Team, Todmorden Food Drop-in; Pam Warhurst, Chairman, Pennine Prospects Rural Regeneration Company; Mary Clear, Chair, Incredible Edible; The Directors of Pennine Community Power and Blackshaw Environmental Action Team (BEAT); Dongria Kondh, Co-ordinator of Treesponsibility; The Lead Team of Todmorden Food Drop-in.

Also: The Committee of 3 Valley Vegans; June Eaton, Hebden Bridge Disability Forum; Joe Thompson, Brighouse Labour Party Secretary of Hipperholme and Lightcliffe, Branch; The Trustees of the Survivors of Torture Activity Fund (STAF) in Calderdale; Sally Hayes, owner of Tod Almighty; Lorraine Power, HR, Valley Organics; Mattanee Nilavongse, proprietor Golden Lion Public House, Todmorden; Graham Haworth, Branch Manager, Wolseley Managed Services; Anne Kingstone, Ann Kingstone Designs; David Williams, Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Secretary, Fire Brigades Union; Jill Moroney, Director of British Healthcare Trades Association and Safespaces; Calderdale People’s Assembly Against Austerity; Jim Ledwidge and Mark Holtom, Clerks for Hebden Bridge Quakers; Anthony Rae, Coordinator Friends of the Earth.

And the following Calderdale councillors have also signed the letter: Scott Patient (Lab, Luddenden Foot), Calderdale Cabinet Cabinet lead for Climate Change and Environment; Roisin Cavanagh (Lab, Luddenden Foot); Dave Young (Lab, Calder); Audrey Smith (Lab, Sowerby Bridge); Colin Hutchinson (Lab, Skircoat); James Baker (Lib Dem, Warley), Leader of Calderdale Liberal Democrats; Victoria Porritt (Lab, Elland); Amanda Parsons-Hulse (Lib Dem, Warley); Jenny Lynn (Lab, Park); Stephanie Clarke (Lab, Illingworth and Mixenden) Mike Barnes (Lab, Skircoat) Daniel Sutherland (Lab, Illingworth and Mixenden) and Sarah Courtney (Lab, Calder).