Volunteers work to make street safe after flooding

Residents of a Hebden Bridge street are celebrating after essential work was carried out to fix devastation wrought by the Boxing Day floods.

The unprecedented deluge carried off the fence at Woodland View, leaving a 30ft gap and eight-foot drop into the river. With several children living on the street, residents were anxious about the risk.

Community Rights of Way Service (CROWS) were contacted and agreed to do the work.

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Coping stones were rescued from the river and CROWS put in a new fence along the gap and applied for funding - both Blackshaw Parish Council and Calderdale Highways agreed to fund the work.

Resident Shira Kimmerling said: “My child and I have not been able to use this pathway since the floods, as the previous fence was swept away by the force of the ater on Boxing Day. Now we are using the path daily and we can enjoyed our renewed walks on to the canal tow path.

“It made a huge difference to us and the rest of the residents on our terrace, especially the ones with children. I also want to thank the CROWS volunteers for erecting the fence so promptly and thank you to Blackshaw Parish and Calderdale Highways.”

CROWS volunteers have also been busy making improvements in Nutclough Woods.

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The group has aimed to make access much easier and safer for residents and people visiting the Hebden Bridge beauty spot.

A host of work has been carried out - a fence above a steep drop has been erected by Calderdale Countryside Service Team on the path coming down from Sandy Gate.

The path from Chapel Avenue, badly damaged by the winter weather has also been repaired by CROWS volunteers.

The path from the Birchcliffe Centre car park to the bottom of Nutclough has been widened and 30 new steps have been put in by CROWS volunteers.

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Birchcliffe Residents’ Association gained funding for the work from a small Calderdale Council grant.

Angela Richards, from Birchcliffe Residents’ Association, said “We are very happy to have sponsored this project.

“The path will be well used as a shortcut into town.

“Nutclough woods is a hidden gem near the centre of Hebden Bridge and we urge local residents to come and explore the new paths.”