Tuesday, 10 February 2026
Flood Alleviation Scheme: councillors are advised to accept
Six years after Hebden Bridge suffered widespread flooding during Storm Chiara, and ten years after the great Boxing Day Flood of 2015, council officers are advising councillors to grant planning permission for the Flood Alleviation Scheme.
February 2020 - Photo: Mike Barrett - click to enlarge
The meeting will be held at the Room B, Halifax Town Hall at 2.30pm, 17 February - it is open to the public, although they cannot speak. Only one objector, councillors and the applicant are afforded 5 mins each to make their case.
Comments by the public were recorded during the planning application process. In November, Hebden Royd Town Council voted that it had no objection to the application, citing its multiple consultation and engagement opportunities and the need for decisive action against flooding and how the scheme has been designed to minimising noise, disruption and maintain heritage features. (See HebWeb, Oct 25)
Consultations have taken place with the Environment Agency, the Canals and Rivers Trust, Network Rail, Northern Gas, Natural England and others who have raised no objection to the work going ahead.
The Council has to date received 132 objections and 44 comments in favour of the scheme. Not all objections are against a flood alleviation scheme. One objector asks that the "planning application be refused to allow Natural Flood Management to be included." Other objectors are concerned about the hit to local businesses, the impact on the character of the town and the removal of car parking spaces.
One supporter, a Flood Warden, writes, "The destruction and misery that flooding delivered will live long in my memory, and I do not wish similar on anyone if future high water events can be better contained and managed." Another supporter wrote, "I really support this application. I think they have been carefully thought through and unless substantial works like this happen, Hebden will flood again. Our valley and the town of Hebden Bridge will suffer very badly if we don't take action soon. "
The exact proposal that councillors will vote upon is:
"Hebden Bridge Flood Alleviation Scheme including the repair and reconstruction of the river walls on Hebden Water and the River Calder, construction of new walls within St Pols Car Park, construction of vertical rising flood barriers on Bridge Gate and Old Gate, repair and reinforcement of specific properties, modification to five weirs, replacement of Central Street Footbridge, reinforcement of two bridges across Hebden Water, two construction compounds, landscaped public open spaces, demolition of outbuildings to the rear of 35 West End along Hebden Water and associated landscaping."
Links
Flood Alleviation scheme - misunderstandings
Have your say on the HebWeb Discussion Forum
Town Council votes to support Flood Alleviation Plans (17 Oct 25)
Plans submitted for £81m flood defences (Sept 25)
Have your say on the Calderdale Planning web page
Myth busting points from Eye on Calderdale
Hebden Bridge Flood Prevention Plans - HebWeb, March 2025
The February 2020 flood, HebWeb
HebWeb Feature on the 2015 Boxing Day Flood
July 2012 Flood, as it happened, HebWeb
The 2012 June Floods, HebWeb