Video: Counting the costs of flood damage

The costs reflect damage to roads, bridges, walls and other infrastructure which are not covered by insurance or Government support schemes.

Seven schools in the district were affected by the flooding but the costs of the damage are still being assessed although they will be at least £1.5m.

Some costs of Calderdale Council’s emergency response to the floods will be covered by the Government but the authority will still have to pay the first £317,000.

It will also have to pay the £450,000 excess on its insurance claim for damage to council buildings and vehicles which will run to more than £2m.

Calderdale Council leader Tim Swift said: “Calderdale has been one of the worst hit areas for infrastructure damage as a result of the floods that hit the region on Boxing Day.

“There has been significant damage to a number of bridges in the borough, including the partial collapse and resulting closure of Elland Bridge, as well as the collapse of three other bridges and one footway in the borough.

“In addition to this, there have been a number of landslips, one of which occurred on the major A646 road in Mytholmroyd which links Calderdale with Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

“This road is now only passable as a single carriageway, managed by traffic lights.

“Scout Road near Mytholmroyd has also suffered a landslip and has been closed, with 17 properties evacuated. Canal towpaths and cycle routes have also collapsed and will need significant repairs.

“Sites are still being monitored, and individual costs are yet to be determined.

“However the projected costs for all the repairs that are needed on roads and structures damaged by the floods is likely to be at least £20m.”

The Government operates a system known as the Bellwin scheme that allows councils to claim for the immediate costs of dealing with flooding such as evacuating people and hiring extra equipment.

But that does not cover items insured by the council or anything beyond emergency repairs to infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

Following the last major floods to hit Calderdale in July 2012, the authority was hit by costs of around £2.5m but only received £77,000 through the Bellwin scheme.

A report considered by a meeting of senior councillors warned that “significant financial support is needed from central and regional funds” to recover from the economic impact of the flooding.

Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker said it was important to keep the plight of the Calder Valley high on the agenda for everybody.

“The estimated costs are huge,” said Mr Whittaker. “Calderdale Council is responsible for the costs but it is a huge burden for them to bear in a small period of time.”

He added that he will be meeting with ministers to alieviate this pressure.

Cost of the damage

A646 Falling Royd road movement. Estimated cost £3m. Estimated timescale six months

Landslip Scout Road, Mytholmroyd. Estimated cost £5m. Estimated timescale 12 months
Wakefield Road Bridge, Salterhebble. Estimated cost £200,000. Estimated timescale Temporary repairs done, Permanent repairs three months

Midgley Road Landslip, Mytholmroyd. Estimated cost £150,000. Estimated timescale three to six months

Copley Bridge, Copley. Estimated cost £1m and like for like placement. Estimated timescale. Over 12 months

Crowther Birdge, Cromwell Bottom. Estimated cost £350,000. Estimated timescale 12 months

The impact in Calderdale for the Canal and River Trust

Rochdale Canal, Between Locks 16 &17, Todmorden. Cost 700k

Rochdale Canal, Between locks 15 &16, east of Todmorden Cost 500k

Rochdale Canal, Between locks 11 &12, Hebden Bridge Cost 200k

Rochdale Canal, Between locks 11 &12, Hebden Bridge Cost 250k

Rochdale Canal, Between Noon Hill & Sowerby Bridge Cost 350k

Rochdale Canal, Between Noon Hill & Sowerby Bridge Cost 300k

Rochdale Canal, near Lock32, Bottomley Cost 200k

Calder and Hebble Navigation Salterhebble locks Cost 400k

Calder and Hebble Navigation. Elland public road bridge. (Elland bridge cost only) 5000k

Calder and Hebble Navigation Elland Lock and lock lobby building Cost 100k

Calder and Hebble Navigation Park Nook lock and towpath to Brook foot lock. Cost 400k

Calder and Hebble Navigation Embankment 4 includes outlet weir between Crowther bridge and Brookfoot. Cost 250k

Calder and Hebble Navigation Ganny Lock. Cost 100k

Calder and Hebble Navigation Lock 15 approach wall and flood defense. Cost 250k

Throughout Calderdale area,

Additional asset inspections Cost 100k

Dredging due to inflows Cost 2000k

Additional culvert cleaning Cost 400k

TOTAL - 11.5m