Major £81 million Hebden Bridge flood alleviation scheme approved in emotive three-hour meeting

Calderdale Council Planning Committee heard the Environment Agency (EA) building new flood defences will take at least four years.

But the EA and supporters of the scheme say it represents the only chance for Hebden Bridge, severely flooded a number of times in the last quarter century, including 2000, 2012, 2015 and 2020, to get better protection.

Opponents are worried about the impact work may have on the town’s heritage and disruption they might cause its businesses – Hebden Bridge is a major tourist attraction.

Objectors are also angry that a large portion of the major Calder Holmes Park will be lost to a compound to store equipment for the scheme.

Councillors unanimously agreed to permit the EA’s proposals to repair and reconstruct river walls on Hebden Water and the River Calder, build new walls within St Pol car park, construct vertical rising flood barriers on Bridge Gate and Old Gate, repair and reinforce specific properties, modify five weirs, replace a footbridge at Central Street, reinforce two bridges across Hebden Water, build two construction compounds, landscape public spaces, and demolish some outbuildings, subject to a range of planning conditions.

Council planning officers said, responding to an issue raised by objectors, that the scheme would not prevent a similar incident to the most devastating of past events, that of Boxing Day 2015.

But they said if these defences overtop, it would take much longer because there would be more containment, allowing more time to protect properties.

EA officials said increasingly severe climate impacts increased risk of incidents happening more often.

Ward Calderdale councillors Jonathan Timbers and Sarah Courtney (both Lab, Calder) said radical action was needed.

Coun Timbers said he and others had lived through the serious flooding over the last quarter century.

“It got so bad, many of us wondered whether the town had any future at all.

“There are no alternative schemes – it’s this scheme or trust to our prayers.

“Hebden Bridge deserves a future – with this scheme its best days are ahead,” he said.

Coun Courtney described the psychological impact flooding left and people had sold their homes and left because of repeated flooding.

Two Hebden Royd Town Councillors clashed over the scheme.

Coun Scott Borrows (Ind, White Lee) said proposals would effect a lot of people and businesses had concerns including over compensation and loss of parking in a town which attracted visitors in large numbers.

“Businesses are going to be detrimentally affected by this for four years.

“The businesses I have spoken to, 20 per cent losses could end their businesses and this could easily cause that.

“Along with the fact they’re going to take away 44 parking spaces which is massive for Hebden Bridge, without anything to provide parking spaces,” he said.

But Coun Keith Butterick (Lab, Cragg Vale) said while town councillors had caveats, including compensation arrangements and about use of Calder Holmes Park, the majority of town councillors supported the scheme.

“We must take every opportunity to protect the town, its residents and businesses, from future flooding disasters.

“If we lose the money now, when will we get it back?” he said.

For objectors, Mikaela Mills-Brand had expressed objectors’ concerns about the impact proposals would have on Hebden Bridge’s heritage and historic structures, for which there was a statutory duty to fully consider.

Concerns include how the historic Packhorse Bridge in the centre of town which dates back more than 500 years might be impacted

“I ask that this committee is certain that duty will be fully and independently discharged before any irreversible decision is made,” she said.

Programme manager for EA Calderdale projects, David Morrison, said Hebden Bridge was one of the most highly-affected flood areas in the country – incidents which not only caused physical damage but long-lasting impacts on well-being, financial security and community confidence.

“The proposed scheme provides the first and only opportunity for Hebden Bridge to receive a co-ordinated, modern, engineered level of protection, designed specifically for the complex catchment,” he said.

It would greatly reduce future flooding impacts and other suggestions like natural flood management would provide supplementary benefit but were not an alternative in themselves, said Mr Morrison.

In terms of compensation for businesses, he told Coun Colin Hutchinson (Lab, Skircoat), chairing the meeting, that there was no compensation scheme as such because it was regulated by the Water Resourcing Act.

“Essentially, if a business is affected directly by the result of works, they are qualified for compensation under the Act.”

Coun Hutchinson told him help and support must be clearly provided to businesses over issues of compensation.

Wadsworth Parish Council representative Coun Alan Fowler warned councillors potential effect on flooding of a proposed giant windfarm above Hebden Bridge had not been taken into account.

Planning officers said if it came to fruition that scheme would have to consider flooding impact.

One said about impact on how the town appears: “People coming to the town who know it will see the interventions – people who haven’t come to the town, who don’t know what was there before won’t see anything out-of-kilter and it will still be the attractive Pennine town it is.”

Councillors asked questions including about issues raised by objectors including about impact it will have on heritage and footfall and compensation issues for businesses, as well as on impact of lengthy and major diversions, such as at St George’s Bridge, loss of parking and potential for park-and-ride to alleviate problems, loss of Calder Holmes, and how the rising flood barriers will be operated and controlled

Coun Courtney, who is Cabinet member for Regeneration and Transport, said conversations were still open about use of Calder Holmes as a compound.