Celebrating resilience on the anniversary of the Calderdale Flood Action Plan

3rd October 2022 News

The Calderdale Flood Action Plan is six years old this October. To acknowledge this important milestone, Calderdale Council and partners are reflecting on progress since 2016 during the upcoming resilience-themed Vision2024 social media takeover week.

The plan was created following the floods of Boxing Day 2015. It sets out the actions to support recovery from past floods, reduce the impact of flooding and build resilience for future events.

The plan is a ‘living document’ that is discussed, monitored and updated by the Calderdale Flood Programme. The programme brings together a range of partners. This includes Calderdale Council, the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, the Canal and River Trust, local flood groups, the voluntary sector and community groups.

Progress to date

Incredible progress has been made since the creation of the plan across the key themes of:

  • Strengthening defences
  • Natural Flood Management
  • Resilient infrastructure
  • Community resilience

Major accomplishments include the completion of the Mytholmroyd flood alleviation scheme, better protecting around 400 homes and businesses; the creation of hundreds of natural flood management measures in partnership with local groups; the relocation of vulnerable infrastructure, such as electricity substations; and ongoing support for local volunteer flood wardens.

The last 12 months have seen further actions completed, including:

  • The launch of the Climate Action Plan and consultation, outlining Calderdale’s steps towards a zero-carbon future
  • Redevelopment of the Eye on Calderdale website, to better support residents and businesses by providing comprehensive information about flooding
  • The launch of additional rounds of the landowner grants scheme, supporting the installation of Natural Flood Management measures.
  • Supporting countryside volunteers as part of the sphagnum moss project which aims to help protect and restore moorland by studying various methods of growing sphagnum moss

The ongoing work to support flood resilience proved to be vital during the heavy rain associated with Storm Franklin early in 2022. Preparations were in place before the storm hit and flood defences and other resilience work held up well. Council teams, partner organisations, flood wardens and local residents showed their usual Calderdale kindness and community spirit. They braved the bad weather and worked around the clock to support each other, pass on vital information and respond to issues.

Help us to mark #Resilience Week

The anniversary of the Calderdale Flood Action plan is also being highlighted as part of a social media takeover week focusing on the Council’s Vision2024 theme week of #resilence. From Monday 3 October, the Council will be sharing content around this theme. It will encourage people and organisations to think about what makes Calderdale special and their ambitions for the area.

Each of the Vision’s other key themes of distinctiveness, kindness, enterprise and talent will have its own social media ‘takeover’ week. ‘Talented’ is up next in November. Individuals and organisations are invited to support the content, comment and share their own messages and photos covering the themes.

To view the full Calderdale Flood Action plan, visit: https://eyeoncalderdale.com/flood-action-plan/.

If you would like to make a suggestion or have an idea which you or your community think would support flood resilience in Calderdale please email: CalderdaleFAS@environment-agency.gov.uk. It will then be discussed by the Calderdale Flood Programme Board

Protecting communities from the effects of climate change and building strong and resilient communities is a key part of the Council’s Vision2024 for Calderdale. Find out more about the Resilience Vision theme by following #VisionCdale2024 and #Resilience on social media from Monday 3 October 2022.

Flood wardens

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