Working with the Flood Partnership how we’re reducing the risk of flooding for Calderdale

Calderdale flood action plan Summary document October 2016 The following organisations have participated in producing this plan: Foreword Aire & Calder Catchment Partnership Northern Gas Network by Cllr Tim Swift, by Dr Thérèse Coffey MP, Calder and Rivers Trust Partnership Community Resilience Chair of Calderdale Flood Partnership Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Operational Group Calder Catchment Flood Studies Group Environment and Rural Life Opportunities Pennine Prospects Calder Future Calderdale is a fantastic place to live Even though was not Floods Minister Northern Powergrid and work. It is a place of outstanding when the waters tore through Calderdale Calderdale flood groups Royd Regeneration natural beauty with vibrant and diverse on Boxing Day last year, I will never forget Calderdale flood warden groups communities. We have a strong social those horrifying images on the news and Pride and economic connection to our rivers, the heart-breaking stories of people who Calderdale Council but also a long history of flooding. This had lost their homes and livelihoods Treesponsibility Canal & River Trust is particularly true in the where the during what should have been such a joyful time of year. The Source Partnership frequency of flooding is typically very high, it happens very The floods had a devastating impact on people’s lives in Forestry Commission quickly and there is a real risk to life. Calderdale with over 3,500 homes and businesses affected. Upper Calder Valley Flood Prevention Group I praise the extraordinary response both from professional Partnership On Boxing Day 2015, many communities were again hit emergency responders and local volunteers. The way in which Water@ by flooding, probably the worst in living memory. Across Town Council communities came together to help those flooded showed that Calderdale approximately 3,500 homes and businesses West Local Nature Partnership the spirit of the season could never be entirely washed away. were affected in addition to schools, bridges, substations, Moors for the Future As admirable as the recovery efforts have been, it was clear Local Resilience Forum sewage treatment works and other infrastructure. that something ambitious needed to happen to reduce the risk National Farmers' Union Despite the severity of the flooding, we were lucky no White Rose Forest of a similar catastrophe happening in Calderdale again. Natural lives were lost. Since last winter, the Environment Agency has been working Yorkshire Water As with previous floods, the response to the incident and Network Rail collaboratively with partners, community groups and immediate recovery was remarkable, with volunteers, individuals to produce this flood action plan. It brings together council officers and partner organisations working around ongoing activity with new initiatives to reduce flood risk the clock to help keep people safe and offer support where and improve resilience to the communities and businesses they could. We know from experience that a full recovery across Calderdale. It includes a comprehensive set of actions, will take time, but also that we have the community spirit including natural flood management, new flood defences and determination to come back stronger than ever. to protect key towns, investigations into using reservoirs to Our work must stand alongside the ideas, enthusiasm store flood water and pop-up community facilities to help and action of our local communities, our flood groups and with recovery. wardens, and we must complement, support and inspire The plan is substantial, both in scope and funding. An the activity of partners. Examples include the dedication additional £35 million of government funding was announced of the Canal & River Trust in restoring and managing our in the March budget, taking our overall investment programme man-made waterways, the initiative of Northern Power in to over £50 million. This funding, alongside other investment future proofing substations and the investigations that is a fantastic lever, and will make a step change in reducing Yorkshire Water will undertake to consider using reservoir flood risk for many communities. For many places, this will capacity to manage floods. We believe there is no single mean an engineered solution, but there is also the knowledge, magic bullet solution to secure flood prevention. Only by enthusiasm and willingness to use natural techniques working together, and using all the tools available, can we and land management. give our communities and businesses the protection that they deserve. By delivering this action plan, we can not only reduce flood risk, but also enhance communities, protect jobs and support I would like to thank the Environment Agency and all those growth. I would like to thank all those that have worked with that contributed to this plan. Now more than ever we the Environment Agency on bringing this plan together must continue to work together to explore, prioritise and and look forward to seeing the actions being delivered on deliver measures at pace to reduce flood risk and support the ground. communities into the future.

Calderdale flood action plan - summary document 1 About this plan How we’re and how we’re investing in working together Calderdale

The action plan outlines how 2015 floods, the structure and We are working to make sure we spend money where it can most help the The Environment organisations and communities will purpose of the partnership was To protect over communities of Calderdale prepare for and protect against the effects of work together to reduce flood risk reviewed and improved to reflect the flooding. This includes the following government funding: Agency has in Calderdale. The plan is a living additional resources available and 1,600 homes and • £15 million for Hebden Bridge flood alleviation scheme to improve the document. We, the partnership, will the increased focus on natural flood protection to up to 500 homes and businesses. produced the regularly check and review it to make management. The partnership will be businesses across sure that actions are delivered and responsible for implementing the • £15 million for the flood alleviation scheme to improve the Calderdale flood new information and ideas are action plan and provide a public Calderdale, the protection to nearly 400 homes and businesses. incorporated. forum for reviewing progress. • £9 million to repair flood defences and remove debris. action plan on We have worked closely with To make sure this action plan is government has partners and communities to collect delivered, it is essential that local • £6 million for the first phase of the Upper Calder flood risk reduction behalf of the information, build trust, think communities and organisations with committed a schemes to improve protection to up to 500 homes and businesses in creatively and problem solve to a vested interest in the area continue Todmorden, , Hebden Bridge, , Eastwood and Callis Bridge. develop a plan that is credible and to work together. The partnership is Calderdale Flood total of over • £2.2 million to reduce the risk of flooding in . relevant to Calderdale. fully committed to supporting this, so that the conversation with the local • £16.9 million for the second phase of flood risk reduction schemes, Over the summer, local residents and Partnership. community continues. £50 million for investigating, and where feasible, improving the protection to homes and representatives of local organisations businesses in , Copley, Midgley, Halifax, Elland, Todmorden, attended 11 workshops. Many New information will be available this flood defences. Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Luddenden Foot, and Brighouse. actions were identified to reduce the autumn and winter, so we will revise risk of flooding and improve resilience this plan in April 2017 and provide £35 million of this • Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council awarded £25 million by the across Calderdale. We have used this regular updates of the plan going Department for Transport to undertake repairs to damaged roads and information, along with discussions forward. bridges. with a wide range of organisations, is new funding We will continue to work together to to create the full action plan. • Over £1.6 million to help Calderdale’s households and businesses recover join up the management of water to agreed since the from the December 2015 floods. This summary document gives an not only reduce the risk of flooding, overview of the work that has taken but also create a better water December 2015 In addition: place since the flooding, and some environment for people and wildlife. of the key actions from the full Page 8 sets out how this plan is a • £3 million from Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council for flood risk and action plan. step towards an integrated approach floods. resilience projects. to the management of water in The Calderdale Flood Partnership was • Calderdale Community Foundation has raised £3.16 million for flood relief. Calderdale. set up in response to the flooding in • Yorkshire Water has committed £36.3 million to repair, reinstate and 2012 to lead a planned and co- The action plan is available on protect water treatment assets in Calderdale. ordinated approach to reducing the www.gov.uk if you search for risk of flooding. After the December Calderdale flood action plan. We will continue to seek further funding opportunities.

2 Calderdale flood action plan - summary document Calderdale flood action plan - summary document 3 Here are some of the What we will do Strengthening defences •1 Continue constructing the Mytholmroyd flood alleviation key actions taken from scheme and complete this by winter 2019. •2 Start construction on the Hebden Bridge flood alleviation the full action plan. scheme by 2018. •3 Complete assessments for flood reduction schemes in Sowerby Bridge, Copley, Halifax, Midgley, Elland, Brighouse, Walsden, Todmorden, Eastwood, Callis Bridge, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and Luddenden Foot.

Natural flood management • Produce a natural flood management opportunity map for Calderdale to show places where the risk of flooding could be reduced and water quality improved. Hebden Water Hebble Brook • Deliver a winter programme of tree planting and construction of leaky dams. Colden Clough Hebden Bridge 2 3 Midgley Luddenden Brook 3 Ovenden Brook Callis Bridge 3 River Calder Maintenance Mytholmroyd 3 Portsmouth Eastwood 3 1 Clifton Beck • Support landowners to understand their roles and Lydgate 3 Halifax responsibilities to maintain watercourses and adjacent land. Todmorden Luddenden Foot • Host an annual maintenance meeting with statutory 3 Cragg Brook Red Beck 3 organisations and communities to review planned maintenance 3 work, promote a joined up approach and increase community Sowerby Bridge Brighouse involvement. 3 • Undertake community-led channel maintenance and stewardship. 3 Copley 3 River Calder Walsden 3 Elland Black Brook River Ryburn Walsden Water Community resilience • Hold an annual flood emergency day throughout Calderdale to practice flood plans. • Increase number of flood warden groups and create a network to share learning and good practice. • Hold a workshop for the insurance industry, businesses and community stakeholders to consider how to improve access Key to flood insurance.

River Calder and its tributaries Towns Existing water assets Calderdale catchment • Investigate changes to the operation of Yorkshire Water reservoirs to provide flood storage areas. • Investigate changes to the operation of canals and canal pounds to reduce the risk of flooding.

4 Calderdale flood action plan - summary document Calderdale flood action plan - summary document 5 What we have already done

spent on repairing volunteer hours given to damaged defences repair and improve canal

Flooding has devastating effects January February March Started repairing flood defences Appointed catchment directors and Removed a collapsed building in Mytholmroyd. and temporary defences. built on the existing Calderdale on lives and livelihoods. Over Cleared the remaining channel blockages - making 63 in total. Flood Partnership to develop an Engaged with communities in integrated catchment approach. Approved £9 million to repair flood defences in Calderdale. 3,500 households and businesses worst affected areas. Cleared all high risk channel Had an additional £35 million allocated from government for flood Inspected 3,138 flood defences. across Calderdale were impacted blockages. defences, taking total funding up to over £50 million. Inspected damage along canal Completed all the required culvert Completed emergency repairs to 17 Yorkshire Water pumping stations network. by the December 2015 floods and inspections in Calderdale. and waste water treatment assets. Worked with volunteers to repair 9 Reopened the navigation and towpath between Sowerby Bridge and they have spent much of this year scoured lock ramps. Hebden Bridge. dealing with its effects. April May June July

Held a public meeting to update Published the Mytholmroyd flood Completed flood risk reduction Published the Calderdale Flood the community on recovery alleviation scheme action plan. work on Road, Todmorden. Commission final report. progress. We continue to work tirelessly to £10 million scheme announced for Opened the Mytholmroyd flood Completed the wall repair at Installed new pump out station Mytholmroyd. information centre. Central Street School in Hebden at Hebden Bridge. Bridge. Completed 3 culvert repairs. repair damaged flood defences Started community workshops Calder & Hebble Navigation to create the Calderdale flood reopened and the Canal action plan. and other infrastructure, support re-connected to the main network. Removed 19,000 tonnes of gravel those affected by flooding, and from the . help make sure Calderdale is August September October better protected and prepared for Held workshops to prioritise Road School reopens. Published the Calderdale flood actions within the plan. action plan. Since January a total of £1,660,000 has been paid in hardship and the coming winter and beyond. Completed work to reduce the risk property resilience grants. Rochdale Canal reopened. of flooding at Gauxholme. Commenced vegetation clearance in the river channel in Mytholmroyd. Repairs completed to A646 at Calderdale Flood Partnership Hebden Bridge. Completed repairs at 90 sites along the river, with work at another 35 sites formed Natural Flood Management underway. Held Operation Calderdale Operational Group. emergency response practice day. 700 metres of flood defence wall rebuilt or repaired, and 6,000 tonnes of 5,000 volunteer hours given to gravel removed from key locations. repair and improve canal.

6 Calderdale flood action plan - summary document Calderdale flood action plan - summary document 7 How we’re doing more What’s next for water, people and wildlife in Calderdale Here are some important things you can do now:

Sign up for flood warnings by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188 Water is at the heart of the Calder Valley. Our use of water in the form of rivers, or log on to canals and reservoirs has shaped the industrial history and landscape of the area for centuries. Water is vital for life – for both people and wildlife, and www.gov.uk/flood having too little or too much is challenging. Water, therefore, needs to be managed in a joined up way, whether that be planning for floods, water supply, Make your home or business more resilient water quality, a home for wildlife or places for us to enjoy. This means we will • Don’t wait for a flood, think about what you can do now. make sure that actions to reduce the risk of flooding also provide wider benefits • Think about what you would want to move to safety during a flood. for people and wildlife through improving water quality and biodiversity: • Check your insurance cover.

• Know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water mains supplies.

• Prepare a flood kit of essential items and keep it handy. Carry out a programme Repair and maintain rights of tree planting, bog of way to prevent them from restoration and leaky • Understand our flood warning codes and what to do when flooding and becoming dams to slow the flow. they’re issued. eroded.

Develop and implement a strategy for managing invasive plant species along watercourses. Advice is available at www.gov.uk/flood To comment on the plan and share your local knowledge, suggestions and ideas for water management, email the Calderdale Flood Partnership at [email protected] Look at where we could improve 'Save some space for a rainy day' access to river channels to enable Work with communities to store community led maintenance. and slow water in their gardens.

8 Calderdale flood action plan - summary document Calderdale flood action plan - summary document 9 Would you like to find out more about us, or about your environment?

Then call us on 08708 506 506 (Mon-Fri 8-6) email [email protected] or visit our website www.environment-agency.gov.uk incident hotline 0800 80 70 60 (24hrs) floodline 0845 988 1188

Environment first: This publication is printed on paper made from 100 per cent previously used waste. By-products from making the pulp and paper are used for composting and fertiliser, for making cement and for generating energy.

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