Holding back the floods
MASSIVE INVESTMENT TO PROTECT AT-RISK PROPERTIES
MILLIONS of pounds of work has been done to make Calderdale more flood resilient since the Boxing Day deluge that engulfed the area in 2015.
But the Calderdale Flood Recovery and Resilience Programme Board would not let up on extending protection further and seeking funding to do it, councillors heard.
Calderdale Council chief executive Robin Tuddenham said a lot of work had been done, including interventions from the Government following the 2015 Boxing Day floods.
“I think we have made the funding work - we have spent all the grants for businesses and residential properties fully and appropriately, worked with Leeds City Region, put in various schemes in-house and talks with ministers are continuing,” he said.
But as the number of flooding “near misses” in the last 18 months showed it was an ongoing task.
“It is long term, it is continuous, it is the defining issue of this place and we will not let it drop.
“It is about continuing to make the case for Calderdale,” said Mr Tuddenham.
Knowledge gained in Calderdale was also helping assist other areas that had been hit by flooding, including South Yorkshire and Cornwall recently.
Adrian Gill, of the Environment Agency, said: “There is still lots more to do but the work is challenging.
“The question to pose to the board is how can we remain focused and look up from the enormity of work we are doing and what else we need to be doing.
“I think there is more we can do around the climate, developing a carbon neutral programme.”
By 2021, £84m will have been spent to improve defences across the Calder Valley and some EU funding which UK areas are still eligible for is still being sought.
Progress on flood alleviation schemes were reported to the board, including around 1,100 gullies being repaired or upgraded, four sections of the Mytholmroyd project complete or nearly completed, Hebden Bridge at detailed design stage with outline business case approval being sought, and bids put in for funds for Brighouse.
National Flood Management schemes have continued apace with funds released for landowners to do work on their land, although there is still a lot to be done,