‘We’ll always be under threat’ say leaders

THE IPPR report comes as political leaders in the Calder Valley, hit by the severe flooding in December 2015, warned residents that the area will always be at risk of flooding despite four years of work to keep them safe, due to their location in a steep-sided valley and the impact of climate change.

One of the efforts to reduce flood risk this winter will be reducing water levels by up to 10 per cent at reservoirs on Hebden Water, meaning there is extra storage for flood water.

Yorkshire Water’s Chief Strategy and Regulation Officer, Nevil Muncaster said: “Lowering reservoirs is not a silver bullet solution to preventing flooding and all agencies need to work together on a wide range of measure to reduce risk, but the data suggests that it could have a positive impact, so it is important that we continue to work to understand both the benefits and potential implications for water resources in the region.”

Other schemes in Calderdale include the Mytholmroyd Flood

Alleviation Scheme, which is on track for completion in summer 2020 and will better protect 400 homes with measures such as raised flood walls and the relocation of the Caldene Bridge.

The report cites the Living with Water scheme in Hull and the East Riding as an example of how to develop a more integrated and comprehensive flood strategy.

Local leaders, the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water have worked together on developing ‘green’ flood infrastructure such as flood plains and water storage lagoons alongside ‘grey’ infrastructure such as walls and flood barriers.

Mr Hunter said long after the TV cameras leave flood affected areas, people and communities are left to deal with the practical, financial and emotional devastation of flooding. “Floods have a huge impact on our economy too, yet we spend less on preventing them than we do fixing the damage they cause. This doesn’t make sense and it must change.”