How We're Reducing the Risk of Flooding for Calderdale
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Working with the Calderdale 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 Colne 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 I 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 Todmorden Pride and economic connection to our rivers, the heart-breaking stories of people who Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council but also a long history of flooding. This had lost their homes and livelihoods Treesponsibility Canal & River Trust is particularly true in the Upper Calder Valley 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 Hebden Bridge Partnership On Boxing Day 2015, many communities were again hit emergency responders and local volunteers. The way in which Water@leeds by flooding, probably the worst in living memory. Across Hebden Royd Town Council communities came together to help those flooded showed that Calderdale approximately 3,500 homes and businesses West Yorkshire 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 West Yorkshire 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 England 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 Mytholmroyd 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 schemes to improve protection to up to 500 homes and businesses in behalf of the information, build trust, think communities and organisations with committed a creatively and problem solve to a vested interest in the area continue Todmorden, Midgley, Hebden Bridge, Elland, 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 Brighouse. 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 Sowerby Bridge, Copley, Midgley, Halifax, Elland, Todmorden, attended 11 workshops. Many New information will be available this flood defences. Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Luddenden Foot, Walsden 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