Asylum seekers and refugees work with Together We Grow which aims to promote the social and emotional wellbeing of asylum seekers and refugees in our area. "We want them to feel welcome in our community," says Finn Jensen in his piece for the HebWeb. Read more (21 May)

From Hebden Bridge in May, bluebell woods in every direction. Click to enlarge

Innovative a cappella singing with juice vocal ensemble, at the Birchcliffe Centre in Hebden Bridge on Saturday 21st May. Read more

Labour win Hebden Bridge's Calder ward. Josh Fenton-Glynn won 2310 votes, against 1424 votes for the current councillor, Janet Battye (Liberal Democrats). Jane Scullion (Labour) won the Luddendenfoot ward which covers Mytholmroyd. More results and figures (Updated 8 May)

Election The HebWeb invited candidates to post messages on the HebWeb saying why we should vote for them. We received response from Jenny Shepherd, the Green Party candidate, Cllr Janet Battye, the Liberal Democrat candidate and Josh Fenton-Glynn, the Labour Party candidate Read more

The Science of Floods: Hydrologists, practitioners and experts from universities and the world of consultancy joined in a 'hands on' workshop for residents and schools at Hebden Bridge Town Hall on 8-9 May. Read more (3 May)

Shape the future of the Valley Road Town Centre site Now that Sainsburys will not be building their store, there is a consultation about the future of the land. Post your views online about the development of the wider area around the old Fire Station premises. Read more

Zeitgeist Hair: job vacancy: The Zeitgeist team is growing and we're on the hunt for two new team members.

Retired Head walks to Italy. Roger Gill, 69, is walking 1,200 miles from Hebden Bridge to Italy. Read the article in the Yorkshire Post 21 April

Hebden Bridge Community Association seeks new Chair. Amonst other things, the Association owns and manages the Town Hall, one of the first community-owned town halls in the country. Read more 18 April

Order your Hanging Baskets! Each year over 300 baskets and flowers are put up across Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd. In an effort to support local businesses, this year Hebden Royd Town Council are pricing the baskets at just £23.50 each. Read more 7 April

Floods Meeting Report - report of Monday's public meeting, called by the Hebden Bridge Partnership. 7 April

Early April, on the tops
Photo from Mick Ryan - click to enlarge

Trouser Town in Happy Valley - scroll down to see the item on Hebden Bridge in The Observer. "The picturesque town of Hebden Bridge was once better known for producing menswear than providing the set for Happy Valley. 3 April

Fighting back after the winter floods: BBC news item includes report of Ian McMillan re-opening The Book Case. 26 March

Save Our A&E campaign: 'two towns, one fight' A&E's campaigners in Calderdale and Huddersfield deride consultation as 'meaningless' Read more 15 March

Duck Island saved as Hebden Water dredged: Today Jos Wattam, who is managing the dredging by the Environment Agency of Hebden Water gave a reassurance that the Duck Island would be preserved Read more 11 March

After the floods: Hebden Bridge Partnership has called for more transparency in the way the Environment Agency and Calderdale plan flood resilience schemes. Read more 28 Feb

Mental Health Jobs axed in Calderdale: Users of a NHS Art Psychotherapy service in Calderdale are fighting to save it from closure after the therapists were given compulsory redundancy notices over the Christmas period. Read story 23 Feb

Co-operative pioneer, Joseph Greenwood sees light of day again. The gravestone of a leading Victorian co-operator, which for many years been lying face-down in thick undergrowth, has now been restored. Read story 22 Feb

Hebden Bridge reservoirs to be considered for floodwater storage. See BBC report

Insurance for businesses hit by floods. See this Look North snippet from Wednesday, 9 February 2016.

After the floods: at The Deli on Market Street, Hebden Bridge, these posters were uncovered during refurbishment. They all seem to date from May 1882 - photo thanks to After Alice Project. Click photo to enlarge. 5 Feb

Hebden Bridge Market wins Best Small Outdoor Market award:
Hebden Bridge Market has been crowned one of Britain's best markets in a prestigious national competition. Read more 3 Feb

BBC's The One Show - came live from Hebden Bridge, Tuesday evening (2 Feb).

Books for Schools success: Di Seymour and Michael Prior had little idea when they asked children's bookø publishers for help restocking flooded schools just how many they would get. A couple of hundred? They've now received more than 2500. Read more 1 Feb

Hebden Bridge is Open for Business - see video of shopkeepers, café owners and more, filmed by Jason Elliott on Monday, 18 January, telling us they are back open for business.

Guardian article: "When we opened the (Town Hall) doors on the 27th we just weren't expecting the sheer volume of people wanting to volunteer. We thought maybe we'd be able to provide hot drinks and somewhere for people to charge their phones… it soon became apparent that it was going to be much, much bigger than that." Read full article 11 Jan

The Guardian used this photo from Craig Shaw for the above article - see more of Craig's photos of the floods aftermath and cleanup

The Impact of the Boxing Day Floods on Hebden Bridge's Economy: the Hebden Bridge Partnership have produced a report seeking to raise the profile of Hebden Bridge in the clamour for flood funds, showing that 80% of town centre shops, cafes, pubs, services were hit by the flood. More info and link to report

Alternative Christmas Lunch 'Thank you' for Flood Volunteers - and HebWeb readers are urged to help track down those who gave their time in the aftermath of the Boxing Day Floods. Read more (26 May)

Floods: Mytholmroyd Action Plan released by the Environment Agency (26 May)

Small Ads: "Amazing but my house in Tod got rented out within 30 minutes after putting the house on Hebweb." From message received, Thursday, 26 May 2016

Trades Club becomes a Co-op. Trades Club members unanimously agreed to turn the Holme Street venue into a co-operative at their AGM. The Club spent 18 months considering the proposal that gives each member an equal £1 share. Read more (25 May)

Convoy to Calais on Saturday 18 June 2016. The People's Assembly has organised a convoy of vehicles to take supplies to refugee camps near Calais and Dunkerque. Food donations needed. Read more (24 May)

Pay As You Feel Café in Hebden Bridge. The Real Junk Food Project Calderdale is to officially open a Pay As You Feel Café on Thursday 26 May at Midday. Read story

Massive fly tipping in Cragg Vale over the weekend: Residents and visitors to the beautiful moors above Cragg Vale were horrified to find a huge amount of household clearance items dumped roadside over the weekend. Read more (19 May)

Hebden Bridge to have its own Radio Station: Launching in June, designed specifically for the people of Hebden Bridge, Hebden Radio will play music with local presenters and news, local gigs and events and much more! Read news item (14 May)

Amplified Busking: What do you think? See our HebWeb Forum discussion

After the floods: Rotary Clubs offer support to community groups. They want local community groups who were affected by the floods to get in touch, as they have some funds available. Read more 19 April

Last Night A Venue Saved My Life. One local resident Nick Rice's personal account of the Boxing Day flood, and ending up at the Trades Club. Published this week in the award winning music magazine Clash Magazine. "There's no food, heat or water at home and I'm caked from head to toe in toxic slurry after attempting to clean up." Read the article. 15 April

Alternative Christmas Day update: latest information about all the events planned for 25 June. Snow machines, Christmas trees, Fair for Youth, Mytholmroyd Gala, lunch for hundreds of flood volunteers and helpers. Read more 14 April

Neighbourhood Plan - the next stage. Have your say in the next phase of development of the Hebden Royd and Hill Top Parishes Neighbourhood Plan. Details of meetings. Read more 12 April

Labour say no to more Academies - Calderdale Labour councillors are joining forces with Halifax MP Holly Lynch to campaign against the Government's plans to force every school to become an Academy. Read more 12 April

Economic Impact of the Boxing Day Floods: An economic impact report on flooding in Calderdale is due for publication early this coming week, and it focuses on the impact the floods have had on local businesses. Read more 3 April

From Steve Farrell, now living in Mysore, India: "As someone who lives abroad, the Hebweb site has always been critical for keeping in touch 'back home' in Hebden. I've just needed to re-advertise my home for rent, so where to turn to? The Hebweb, of course. The Ad was up within minutes and there were 10 enquiries within 24 hours. Superb!" See Small Ads. 1 April

Mytholmroyd Arts Festival presents premiere of short film Calder. Film-maker Paula Sutherland says, "The receding flood waters truly revealed the remarkable character of this community. We were astonished by the strength of connection that moved people to set aside their own troubles and extend help and support to others." Read more 30 March

Above: Tosspot gets a kiss
More Pace Egg photos.

Pace Egg Play 2016. Hundreds turned out for the Heptonstall Pace Egg play in the Good Friday sunshine. More photos. £1144.94 was raised which will shared between Calderdale's Flood Relief Fund and the East African Playgrounds project.

The floods: taking stock three months on: Public Meeting, called by Hebden Bridge Partnership on Monday, 4 April 2016. See What's on

2016 Hebden Bridge Tourist leaflet.
More info here

Budget: Calder Valley Flood Defences. The Chancellor has allocated £35 million to the Calder Valley for flood defences. See this short clip from Look North. 16 March

Schools' spokeperson slams Academy proposals: local schools will "be forced to join bureaucratic and undemocratic Academy chains, accountable to unelected sponsors and to civil servants in Whitehall." Read more 16 March

The Manchester and Leeds Railway: 175th Anniversary - 1st March 2016. Read story (PDF) from Friends of Hebden Bridge Station.

Craig says yes to Europe: Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker has said on his website that he will be voting to stay in the European Union. 24 Feb

Ghost houses of Hebden Bridge. Can they be brought back to life? Public meeting and consultation being held at the Town Hall to discuss resurrection of the High Street, once crowded with early nineteenth century terraced houses. Read more 7 Feb

BBC Look North reports on the floods in Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd, one month on.

The Floods in Mytholmroyd. A selection of remarkable video footage from Raphael Pavel. Click here to see.

The real story of the Calder Valley floods: restored communities and faith in humanity - Eight days on from the devastating Boxing Day floods that swamped Calder Valley, the real story is that people came together and have been magnificently supported by a wide range of groups from all backgrounds, some of whom have travelled long distances to help. 3 Jan

THE FLOODS - AFTERMATH.
Funding for residents and businesses, Army on the streets; video of Town Hall hub co-ordinating support; businesses needs support; help from Halifax mosque; George Monbiot - "warnings disregarded"; message of support from twin town, and more. News and photos updated 3 Jan

Sainsburys' latest court action thrown out. See court ruling here. The High Court has dismissed Eshton Gregory's/ Sainsbury's judicial review challenge to the Planning Inspector's refusal to grant an appeal to Calderdale Council's refusal of planning permission 30 Dec

See HebWeb Forum thread for floods discussion.

FLOODED AGAIN!  More video added.
Worse than 2012 - see our news page with more photos and info. Offers of help are being co-ordinated by the Calder Valley Flood Support Facebook group. At least two Sunday papers have Mytholmroyd on their front page. Read and see more 26 Dec

'Calder Valley under water: Sacrificed to indifference and political ideology': an open letter from Calderdale Friends of the Earth to Craig Whittaker MP challenges the actions, inaction and political ideology that contributed to the floods. Read letter 27 Dec

Sunday 27th: Picture House is appealing for people to help. Bring a headtorch as no electricity. Free gas check offer. See our flood news page

Flood Sirens went off at 9.30pm Christmas Day in Hebden Bridge and again throughout the length of the Upper Valley at 7.30am Boxing Day morning. Updates can be found on the Calder Valley Flood Support Facebook group. An Environment Agency flood warning is in force. Main roads remain closed, Boxing Day, 8.30pm.

Hydro-power scheme in Hebden Bridge: Situated in the Colden Valley, Jane and Bede Mullin's Water Turbine installation will produce enough power for 40 houses. However, recent cuts in government subsidies for renewable energy means that similar projects in the future would no longer be economic. Read more. Updated 20 Dec

Arriva awarded Calder Valley rail franchise with the promised of the phasing out of Pacer trains, new services and routes, better stations, smart ticketing, free wifi and air-conditioned carriages. The new franchise has been welcomed by the Sustainable Transport Group. Read more. 9 Dec See Forum message

Gibson Mill celebrates 10 years, OffTheGrid - not connected to the National Grid, all energy comes from wood, sun and water, and all waste is recycled. More info here

Fair for Youth: how it changed me. A personal account by Alex Kostyakov of his involvement with Fair for Youth, now that he has stood down as its Chair. Read more 26 Oct

HebWeb Quirky Small Ads:
As well as services, and houses and homes offered and wanted, recent ads have included Jewellery workshop, bycycle maintenance classes, English, French, Italian, Spanish and Voice tuition, Hawaiian massage and Mindfulness. See our Small ads page.

The big clear up began in earnest yesterday (27th) with hundreds of helpers all over town. Photo of Market Street: Sara Robinson.

Carols in the Square: Our town square was overflowing on all sides as hundreds congregated for the annual Christmas Eve carol singing.

Flood siren went off in Hebden Bridge just before 4pm, Sat 12 Dec. Road and rail problems reported along the valley. See Facebook group, Calder Valley Flood Support for latest info. Market Street was flooded again but was clear later in the evening.

"Many thanks Hebweb, the Small Ad asking for Volunteers to cook and help at Wadsworth Lunch Club has already had success. We now have someone coming to help cook. We'd still welcome a washer up, and occasional helpers please."

Camera Club Annual Exhibition winning pictures: visitors were asked to vote for their 3 favourite images in order of merit. Read more and see the 3 winning photos.

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

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

Small Ads - I just wanted to let you know that through my small ad on your site I found my ideal new home, meeting all my requirements. Thank you very much for such a great resource

Small Ads - "We placed a job ad on the Hebweb recently, intending to keep it there for 2 weeks, but we had to take it down after 3 days due to the huge response generated"

Small Ads: "Ad posted Monday, lease to be signed Saturday and tenant moving in Sunday. Thanks HebWeb."

"Unbelievable result Hebweb. So many enquiries in response to the small ad on your site and now have lovely new tenants. What a success - Thank you Hebweb."

HebWeb also available on the slightly shorter hebdenbridge.uk as well as hebdenbridge.co.uk

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

HebWeb uses Google ads to help cover its costs and they vary for each user. This has worked well for many years. However, please let us know the url of any ad thought to be inappropriate. If we agree, the ad will be blocked.

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.

Small Ads - "I am very pleased to say the response was terrific and both properties are now let." (Less than a week)

Small ads: "We've successfully rented our house. Thanks for an excellent service - I'll heartily recommend Hebweb, as our house was previously listed through an estate agent who didn't manage to get us a tenant in 3 months - through Hebweb we had 4 prospective tenants within a week."