One year on, how our Valley is rebuilding after the flood
A YEAR on from the devastation caused by Storm Ciara in Calderdale, great progress has been made to reduce flood risk, says the Environment Agency.
Next Tuesday marks the first anniversary of Storm Ciara, which caused Calderdale’s fourth major flood in just eight years and brought 10 miles of damage across the borough.
Coun Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Resilience, said: “The floods on Boxing Day 2015 were our most devastating, but the impact of Storm Ciara was felt over an even bigger area, showing that the risk of flooding is ongoing in Calderdale.
“Since Storm Ciara, we’ve faced 16 flood alerts and warnings and a very near miss during Storm Christoph this January – a stark reminder of the constant threat of climate change.
“But Calderdale’s kindness, resilience and community spirit always shine through. 2020 was an especially hard year because of COVID-19 straight after flooding, but joint work has continued on the recovery and future resilience.
Adrian Gill, area flood risk manager at the Environment Agency said: “Storm Ciara had a devastating impact on many people, homes and businesses across Calderdale. It was the second highest recorded level on the River Calder, second only to Boxing Day 2015.
“However the climate emergency means that we cannot always prevent or build our way out of an incident. That’s why we’re working to help households, businesses and communities be better prepared and more resilient to flooding.
“Since this flood, some great progress has been made to reduce flood risk, with the £41 million Mytholmroyd Flood Alleviation Scheme better protecting 400 homes and businesses in Mytholmroyd, Brearley and Luddenden Foot, including during Storm Christoph last month. Early works have started in Hebden Bridge and other projects continue to develop at Brighouse, Sowerby Bridge, Copley Village and Walsden. These projects are only part of the solution to reduce flood risk across the Calder Valley. We continue to work with Calderdale Council, Yorkshire Water, other partners and communities to reduce flood risk, including the use of natural flood management techniques and reservoir storage.”