A campaign is being launched trying to keep people coming to a Calderdale town while an 18-month revamp is underway.

As reported by the Courier, this month will see the start of a major new project to pedestrianise Brighouse town centre, and people are being warned of road closures and diversions.

But businesses are hoping a “still open for business’ push will help keep trade in the town booming.

Work by Esh Construction is set to start on Monday, January 12 which will include upgrading streets and public spaces with the aim of encouraging people to spend more time, more often, in Brighouse.

How Bethel Street, Brighouse, might look when work is completed.

placeholder image — How Bethel Street, Brighouse, might look when work is completed.

While the hope is to improve the experience of visiting the town, there will be some disruption while they are carried out.

In all, work is expected to take around 18 months to complete.

Brighouse BID is redoubling efforts to promote Brighouse and bring in the shoppers and visitors in the meantime.

Project manager for Brighouse BID, Helen Holdsworth, says the construction company has promised to answer traders’ questions about the work.

How Commercial Street, Brighouse, might look when work is completed.

And Brighouse BID will be stepping up its support for businesses in the town.

“From Monday, we will be launching our ‘Brighouse is still open for business’ campaign to promote as positive a picture of our town as possible – we need people to keep visiting, keep shopping and keep spending and we’ll be doing whatever we can to encourage that,” she said.

“We know it will be hard, but let’s do all we can to work together to try and achieve it.”

The first phase of the work will focus on the west area of the town, taking in Commercial Street between Gooder Street and Park Street, Briggate between Thornton Square and Commercial Street, and Market Street, West Park Street and Ship Street (scheduled January to summer 2026).

Phase two sees attention switch to the east, taking in Commercial Street between Park Street and Bradford Road, and Park Street, Park Row, King Street and Bradford Road (scheduled summer to winter 2026).

The third phase concentrates on the Bethel Street area, including Bethel Street car park (scheduled winter 2026 to spring 2027).