Minister tours Valley

Environment Minister, Dan Rogerson, visit the Calder Valley. Dan Rogerson with Counillors Stephen Baines and Rob Holden.

More than 1,000 homes and businesses were damaged during the unprecedented floods in 2012 and 2013 and over the past two years, the communities have been working together to reduce the risk and impact of future incidents.

The visit started at the flood store in Mytholmroyd - which stocks emergency supplies - and continued onto the Dusty Miller bar, hotel and restaurant to meet with landlady Anne Downie, who discussed her experience in 2012.

“Within just half an hour the whole ground floor of the pub was destroyed. We lost everything.

“People in the community were marvellous and helped us with the clean up, but we were out of business for about six and a half months.”

Mr Rogerson discussed the Calderdale Pathfinder Project, a Defra funded initiative. The project means that 1,000 people will be protected from flood risk as volunteers monitor river and lake water levels so that they can be drained safely to avoid flooding.

Around £310,000 was contributed by Defra to the project, with a further £215,000 raised through partnership funding.

Mr Rogerson, said: “We are spending £3.2 billion on flood management and defences over the course of this parliament.

“This Defra funded flood resilience project will make a real difference to the local community in Calderdale.

“ It is a great example of how a community can work together to improve flood protection and resilience.

“Flooding can have a devastating impact on communities and businesses across the country and I would urge people to assess their flood risk ahead of this winter and take any necessary steps, however big or small, to help protect their homes and businesses where necessary.”