Meeting to discuss £3 million flood prevention schemes

The Environment Agency and Calderdale Council are set to hold a public drop-in meeting in Hebden Bridge Town Hall to outline details of proposed schemes for the Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd areas.

These include managing water running down the hills into Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Midgley, overtopping from the canal in Todmorden and highway flooding in Todmorden and Eastwood.

The programme will be funded by the Environment Agency and Calderdale Council and work on the first of the schemes will start this autumn.

Environment Agency project manager Andrew Coen said: “A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes in the last year to develop projects that will make a real difference to the risk the communities in the upper Calder Valley face from flooding. Over the next 12 months, we will be implementing these projects on the ground. However, before we do that, we would like to invite local people to have their say on these plans.”

The Environment Agency wants to hear what local have to say about the initial proposals before drawing up detailed designs during the summer.

There will also be an opportunity to learn about the work done so far by the local flood action groups in the Upper Calder and visitors to the Drop-In will be invited to give their views on plans to establish stores across the valley which will contain equipment to be used in the event of flooding.

Local people will also have a chance to share their views on the development of a new website to provide up to date community information and advice in times of flooding.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Environment, Coun Barry Collins, said: “This is an opportunity for local residents to find out more about the planned works and to make their opinions known. The £3 million programme demonstrates the commitment of both the council and the Environment Agency to flood prevention in the Upper Calder Valley. The various schemes are part of the Calderdale Flood Investment Plan, designed to help local people and businesses become increasingly flood resilient.”

The meeting will take place in Hebden Bridge Town Hall between 3pm and 7pm on Wednesday, April 9.