The number of years men and women in Calderdale might expect to live in good health has fallen, according to new data.

But councillors clashed over what might be the cause.

In a questions session at a meeting of the full Calderdale Council, Coun Dan Wood raised the issue using new Office for National Statistics figures, also published by the council on its website in September.

Coun Wood (Green, Northowram and Shelf) said: “In common with many other parts of the country, the latest healthy life expectancy figures for Calderdale make grim reading.”

He said 2024 statistics showed a fall over one year in female healthy life expectancy, from 63.2 years to 60.9 years, while for Calderdale men it had also slipped and was now 60.2 years.

“This means that it’s likely that a majority of people are suffering from significant ill-health well before they reach retirement age,” said Coun Wood.

He asked cabinet members what steps they would take to avoid further deterioration in the situation against a three month backdrop where the Reform administration, which took control of the council at May’s elections, were backing away from active travel and cycle lane schemes aimed at improving health.

Other issues included planning approval for fast food outlets near schools – a new McDonalds at Shelf – and lack of provision of cool spaces in the summer heatwave, he said.

Coun Dan Wood (Green, Northowram and Shelf)

But leader of the council, Coun Daniel Sutherland, strongly disagreed on causes.

“The biggest issue when it comes to life expectancy is wealth inequality – the top priority we’ve got is trying to deal with value for money. Council tax is a regressive tax that hits the poorest hardest,” he said.

Coun Sutherland (Reform UK, Illingworth and Mixenden) went on: “If we think that cycle lanes is the answer to improving life expectancy, it is really disconnected and the equivalent of the rich saying to the poor ‘if you want to live longer, get on your bike’,” he said.

According to the statistics, for 2022-24 healthy life expectancy at birth in Calderdale men was 60.2 years and for women, 60.9 years.

Where you live in Calderdale also plays a part.

For men, the average life expectancy is 79.5 in Calder and Ryburn, but 77 in central Halifax and only 75.5 in north Halifax.

It is 78.7 in the upper Calder Valley and the longest-lived on average are in the lower Calder Valley at 80.3, together giving a Calderdale average of 78.2 years.

For women, the average life expectancy is 82.5 in Calder and Ryburn, but 82.2 in central Halifax and only 80.6 in north Halifax.

It is 83.8 in the upper Calder Valley and the the lower Calder Valley, together giving a Calderdale average of 82.6 years, according to the data.