News, Features and forthcoming Events
Local Green Party to celebrate growth: The Calderdale Greens are celebrating the growth of their membership, which has increased five times within one year. In January alone over 100 people have joined as members. Read more 17 Feb
School funding scandal: Labour warned last year that Government funding for schools was in doubt. Read more 16 Feb
General Election: transport
The Sustainable Transport Group has asked candidates standing in our Calder Valley constituency a series of questions about transport policy and fare rises. The candidates have all replied. Read the questions and replies
Calder High loses out again in new school building programme. Labour's Josh Fenton-Glynn has expressed disbelief that Calder High has yet again been overlooked by the Government. Read more 10 Feb
Once again, Hebden Royd Town Council is sponsoring local community groups to clean up neglected corners of the Parish over its annual 'Spring Clean Weekend' on 21st and 22nd March 2015. More info
Use libraries to access wifi: Although the Hebden Bridge Library has had wireless access for some time, visitors to other libraries in Calderdale will soon be able access their laptops, phones and tablets using free wifi. Read more 9 Feb
Register to vote: To be sure you can vote in May's General Election, you need to check you are registered by Monday 20 April 2015. More info and links to register online.
Publish People's Commission Report now say Lib Dems. Local Liberal Democrats have expressed dismay that the report of the Council's People's Commission into health and social care services is being kept under wraps until February 9th. Read more
Share your favourite Harold Crabtree shoes! This was Harold Crabtree's final season. As everything flies off the shelves for the last time, there is a chance to share your favourite Harold Crabtree moments. Read more 1 Feb
It's time to imagine the Hebden Bridge of the future: 2015 is the year for thinking about how to make Hebden Bridge an even better place to live, work and visit says the Hebden Bridge Partnership. Read more.
Piano Festival programme launch party - Fast becoming a regular fixture in the town's social calendar, the Hebden Bridge Piano Festival programme launch party takes place at the Town Hall on Sat 7th February. Read more
Craig Whittaker's Wikipedia page edited anonymously from the House of Commons. A reference to our MP's arrest for allegedly assaulting his son outside a petrol station was deleted, along with his claim to not know about the future of A&E. See the Wikipedia edits and this page from The Political Scrapbook (26 Jan)
Warming up for cricket: Hebden Bridge Cricket Club is starting the long thaw towards the new season with a of indoor nets beginning on 1st February. Read more
One woman protest in the Square - Christine Drake explains to HebWeb readers why she is there - "in solidarity with the Palestinians" - and recounts some of the abuse she has suffered during her 6 months of demonstrating. See HebWeb Forum thread 21 Jan
Heavy snow covers the town and hills 21 Jan
Tour de France brought £12.5m boost to Calderdale, according to a report commissioned by Calderdale Council. 340,000 people watched the race in our area. Read more (15 Jan 2015)
PENNINE WAY TO COME TO HEBDEN BRIDGE AND HEPTONSTALL
- a Pennine Way Loop, developed with the Walkers Action group, is due to open this Spring, in time for the 50th anniversary of the walkers' trail. Organisers expect the Loop to bring a major boost to our local economy. Read more 12 Jan
The HebWeb was sent the above photo which we published in solidarity with the murdered French artists and writers. Nous Sommes Tous Charlie. 8 Jan
Local accountants Cresswells back Arts Festival and will sponsor the Street Sundae event during the Festival in July. More info 18 Feb
Save our Shops (SOS) "Post boxes" are appearing in shops and cafés this week so people can post pledges to oppose Sainsbury's in Hebden Bridge. Pledge cards are also provided. More info 17 Feb
Growing up in Sowerby: Jean Illingworth's love for, and fascination with, her home town of Sowerby was at the heart of her talk to the Hebden Bridge History Society. Read more 16 Feb
House prices: "Often seen as the poor relation to its trendy neighbour, Hebden Bridge," Todmorden has registered the biggest house price rise in Yorkshire over the past six months. See Yorkshire Post article 14 Feb
Crossley Mill Nursery Rhymes to a funkier beat. Nursery rhymes have been given a musical makeover thanks to parents, children and staff who have together created a CD of their favourite songs. Read more 12 Feb
Young Producer Sam Bell visits Reuters Sam's dream is to be a journalist so, with the help of Arts Festival sponsors Thomson Reuters, he got to spend a day in the Reuters newsroom. Read more (10 Feb)
Benefit for Greenpeace at the end of the month. 10 top comedy and variety acts, organised by Cabaret Heaven at the Trades Club. See What's on.
Flood works: Carlton Street closed from Monday 9 February, temporary lights in Albert Street and loss of some parking. Work will take 4 weeks.
Local History Society report: Nigel Smith spoke about Patterns in the Landscape: the evolution of settlement and enclosure in the Upper Calder Valley. And revealed the origins of some local place names. Read more 5 Feb
War on Want say no to Trade Deal, War on Want Director John Hilary is to talk against the treaty at the Trades Club, 14 Feb - a treaty that threatens to undermine democracy, jobs and public services. Read more 1 Feb
Tea towels mean cash for White Ribbon. The money was generated from the sale of tea-towels in Valley Organics shop. 50p from every Tea towel sold is donated to the campaign. Read more. (1 Feb)
Thomas Barr. The HebWeb has been asked to inform readers of the death of the former Landlord of The White Lion. The funeral is at Walton Lea Crematorium, Warrington, WA4 6TB on 4th Feb at 4:20pm. All welcome.
Road Safety: Mayor and local Heads address road safety concerns. Read more 26 Jan
University of the Third Age: Paulo Marini, enlightened his audience at the January U3A general meeting in a talk entitled, Open Farm Technologies - Aquaponics. Read more (26 Jan)
Alternatiba Todmorden! Musicians needed to play at a small one-day Festival of Climate Alternatives on Sunday 3rd May 2015 Read more 26 Jan
Car Co-op makes motoring cheaper and greener: Hour Car offers an efficient, low cost alternative to private ownership: car sharing, manager Kevin Hogan tells the HebWeb. Read more.
Tour de Yorkshire - the route was announced today; it passes through Hebden Bridge on Sunday 3 May. More info and links
Beer and Cider Festival at the Town Hall to coincide with the Tour de Yorkshire. Read more
Street lighting update: following complaints about street lights not working (cable along Keighley Road has been stolen) Calderdale Council apologise and promise to improve their condition, reliability and energy efficiency. Read more 19 Jan
Australian View of Hebden Bridge: from The West Australian - "This once-dying mill town reinvented itself as a beacon of alternative living; a quirky commuter hub where artists, writers, hippies and new-age gurus rub shoulders with teachers, estate agents and earthy Yorkshire folk". Read the article. 16 Jan
Join the navvies: call for volunteers to help rebuild Stubbing Wharf canal moorings. Read more 14 Jan
Calderdale's Council Tax freeze continues: Details of council's proposed budget, together with early salvos from Labour and the Lib Dems. Read more 12 Jan
Labour Councillors Surgery Dates - next date is 18 Feb. See What's on.
Town Council write to French twin town re: Charlie Hebdo. The Mayor of Hebden Royd, Cllr Jonathan Timbers expressed the area's commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of France. Read more. 12 Jan
Minutero vintage photography: After the HebWeb snapped them in action by the river on Bridge Gate, this unusual Minutero photography group has sent us some info and photos. Read more 9 Jan
New Director of National Portrait Gallery grew up in Hebden Bridge. He also curated last year's successful Matisse exhibition at the Tate. Read more 8 Jan
Hebden Bridge Teenage Cancer Appeal Mayor of Hebden Royd, Cllr Jonathan Timbers presented a cheque for £4,000 to the Teenage Cancer Unit, Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield on behalf of a local charity. 5 Jan
HebWeb Review of 2014 - the year the Tour de France passed through Hebden Bridge, Sainsburys threatened to build a supermarket, the closure of Halifax A and E feared, Hebden Bridge suggested as the UK's 2nd city, Stoodley Pike was 200 and Bridge Mill 700, it was the 20th anniversary of Lindsay Rimer's still unsolved murder, and much more
Happy Birthday Stoodley Pike. Local film-maker and historical researcher, Nick Wilding shared his filmed collection of reminiscences about the Pike, and its 200 years, with the Local History Society. Read more (16 Dec)
Get Writing: Hebden Bridge Arts Festival is challenging local playwrights to get writing over the festive season as they open submissions for next year's Hebden Shorts. Read more (11 Dec)
Bernard Ingham describes our town as "my now unrecognisably trendy native Hebden Bridge" in a Yorkshire Post article entreating readers to vote Conservative at the next election. (10 Dec)
Calderdale now a frack free zone. Labour and the Liberal Democrats joined together to pass a motion calling for no fracking in our area. Read more
Arts Festival: John Shuttleworth to play Picture House on Friday 6 March. The man dubbed 'The king of retro and old-school England' returns with his show, 'A Wee Ken to Remember'. Read more
Hebden Bridge Group Practice report - good and average except for appointments, according to Care Quality Commission (CQC) - see Forum
Sand Sculpture succumbs to elements and has had to be dismantled earlier than the planned date of 1st December.
Grants for local community groups available. Calderdale has made a total of £5,000 available for the Calder ward to be spent by March 2015 - similar amounts are available for Luddenden Foot and other wards. Read more
WW1 centenary: Sand in your Eye project - Watch the 7 minute video illustrating how the sculpture was planned and built at the Town Hall, as a World War One centenary project. Read more
Craig Whittaker MP boasts about the size of his walk-in wardrobe in this YouTube clip put online yesterday - it's apparently not much smaller than an NHS staffroom. (24 Oct)
CHAINSAW TUESDAY: 10 years on. 19 October was the tenth anniversary of the Battle of the Mill Pond: street-fighting in a back street of Hebden Bridge. See new HebWeb feature
Free Trevor Lewis? Was a sentence of three years right for the man who wrecked the Eastwood Recycling Centre? See Forum thread
Stop subsidies to sheep farmers and grouse moor owners - Guardian columnist George Monbiot gave a powerful speech to a packed audience at the Baptist Church yesterday evening, as part of the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival. Read more. (4 July)
Calderdale throws out Sainsbury's plans. Objectors to Sainsbury's application to build a supermarket on the site of the old Fire Station turned out in force at the Planning Committee meeting in Halifax Town Hall tonight. Read report and see more photos
Bridge Mill went eco-powered to celebrate 700th birthday: Street Party on Saturday afternoon, 6 September. Birthday Cake, Candles, Music. See news item and new feature.
Above: Stoodley Pike photographed by Craig Shaw of Blu Planet Photography, capturing the first real snow of winter.
Happy Valley tops Radio Times critics' poll. The magazine's TV editor Alison Graham called the Yorkshire-based programme (filmed in Hebden Bridge and upper valley) "bitingly raw" and said its writer Sally Wainwright and lead actor Sarah Lancashire had "never been better". See BBC news item
Old Gate building work road closures to be limited to one or two mornings a week from now until April. Read more (19 Dec)
Council Minutes - latest minutes of the Hebden Royd Town Council meetings are now online.
NatWest Hebden Bridge branch to close on 24 February. NatWest blame falling numbers and say the cash machine will remain for now.
Street Video: The Arts Festival have given the Hebweb the first public showing of a new video of two days of street entertainment this summer. See video and info (25 Nov)
Yorkshire Post article: What happened to all those yellow bikes (23 Nov)
Scotland Now article - Learning Gaelic in Scotland by distance, featuring John and Ailie Kerrane in Hebden Bridge. (23 Nov)
Young arts producers win national awards: for #Yourfest in Calder Holmes Park this summer, part of the annual Hebden Bridge Arts Festival. Read report (20 Nov)
Local History Archive: those attending the latest History Society session were treated to a sample of some of the treasures to be found in the Society's archive. Read report (19 Nov)
Postcard from Palestine postscript - More photos from Hebden Bridge's Ron Taylor, a regular visitor to Palestine, part of an international movement of supporters. Read more
The 'Handmade Parade' of 90 years ago. See 2 min video of the 1924 Hebden Bridge Carnival from Yorkshire Film Archive, together with background info.
Happy Valley, based around Hebden Bridge and Sowerby Bridge, wins Best New Drama award, at the TVChoice Awards, hosted by David Mitchell. See report in Daily Mirror.
President of German Parliament praises Mayor of Hebden Royd's speech. Cllr Jonathan Timbers, won praise for a speech he made at a twinning event in Warstein, Germany, from the President of the Bundestag, Dr Norbert Lammert. Read more (5 Sept)
HebWeb now available on the slightly shorter hebdenbridge.uk as well as hebdenbridge.co.uk
eBook from Pennine Pens - Theatre in a Time of Change - by Hebden Bridge's Michael Prior. This is not a book about stars and plays, but about the rise and fall of the theatre as a cultural and economic art-form since 1945. Read more. (11 Aug)
HebWeb photos - see photos from some of this year's great events - Handmade Parade, Stoodley Pike at 200, Pace Egg and more.
Where to Stay - latest additions and updates: Old Town Cottage, Stag Cottage, Towngate Cottage, Bottoms Farm, Beech House, Croft Mill and The Old Co-op.
HebWeb Directories: latest updates include Thinking Further, ABC Coaching and Counselling, Ecoheat and Waterside Gym
Twitter: Join the 1800 plus now following the HebWeb.
Scheme to insulate attic rooms in Hebden Bridge terraced houses. Local ineligibility for green grants has been raised over the years on the HebWeb. Now some residents have started benefiting from a new scheme which can cost as little as £1. More info and how to apply
A northern Banksy? Sylvia Plath on a bike. The drawing above on the side of the Shoulder of Mutton was one of several by street artist Stewie which were featured on BBC Look North.
Guardian Northerner: What the UK can learn from Hebden Bridge? The BBC's Mind the Gap asks how London's success can be replicated elsewhere: Claire Donnelly argues that our small town could have the answer. Read more (11 March)
Hebden Bridge, the UK's second city, BBC article by Evan Davis. "Hebden Bridge is an inverted city with a greenbelt centre and suburbs called Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool." Read the article
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Hebden Bridge: more plaudits - Last year's Valley of Lights won APSE's best community and neighbourhood initiative, and the Old Gate pub restaurant is Yorkshire Post's "Pub of the Week".
Britain's favourite market town? Hebden Bridge has been shortlisted in the 'Britain's favourite market town' category in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2013. Read more
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Guardian Northerner: Hebden Bridge the UK's coolest place? The Yorkshire Paradise has won its fourth accolade in a decade. Born, brought up and living here, Rachel Pickering is loyal, but has one or two cautionary thoughts.
Five hundred words on Hebden Bridge - "Everything in the house was heated by the fire, all the old terraced houses used coal for heat and cooking back then, the valley had a serious smog problem." Read more from Dave Bridges' 500 words.
Jason Elliott's 500 Faces of Hebden Bridge
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