From Neil M.

Friday 7 March 2025

No doubt it is rare for a flood to occur on a Boxing Day; but you might remember that another damaging flood occurred in the town centre just over 4 years later, on 9 February 2020. And extreme weather events causing such floods are predicted to become more frequent. So more than once every few decades. More businesses fold each time, so we'd better protect our town as best we may or see it indeed become a ghost town..

From Martin Cockroft

Friday 28 March 2025

I agree with the first comment! The proposed scheme will irreparably damage many businesses in Hebden with over 4 years of roadworks . The new "iron curtain"will destroy the look of Hebden and probably have a severe detrimental impact upon visitor numbers in the near and far future. 

Surely there must be a more cost effective less destructive way of improving flood defences ?

From Vivienne R

Monday 31 March 2025

I've just glanced at the plans, which seem to include looking at the river through glass panels  in places, and eliminating still more of our shrinking number of parking spaces. 

I'm particularly concerned about how the packhorse bridge area will look when the works are complete, and would like the Council to run a public meeting to illustrate and explain, before commencement.

From George Murphy

Wednesday 2 April 2025

It's a tough, but it's already decided. The view of the river along Old Gate will be impaired. The scene close to the old Hole in the Wall has lost a precious tree, but flood defence gates will be open except when the river is dangerously high.

The town hall and its courtyard will keep its prized outlook. The wavy steps will be partly obscured but open to view and lounge and enjoy when the barriers are not raised.

The weather is going to warm and flooding and heatwaves will be more frequent. It's a choice that was made by both major parties and shops and residences have been saved from financial crises in the last few years. 

From  Irene Fenn

Thursday 3 April 2025

Not surprised but still disappointed with the flood protection plans unveiled at the town hall. For an idea of what's being proposed, look at Mytholmroyd. They've done a very neat job and the defences will go a long way to prevent Mytholmroyd being overwhelmed again but the relationship between town and river has been broken. 

Hebden is a rarity in that it has a picturesque river that runs straight through its middle (though, unfortunately, through residents' living rooms, sometimes), is accessible and, in normal times, safe. The proposed barriers at the wavy steps may be retractable but they won't be discreet – they'll be supported by stone-clad, metal pillars, as will the barriers on the opposite bank. And why must they cut down all the trees? As for Oldgate, who wants to look at a river through a window? The windows in Mytholmroyd are already green and grimy. I guess we can all go to the town hall to have a look at the river if we want to. 

Damage to Hebden's businesses must be minimised, but as Martin Cockroft asks, is this the best way to spend such eye-watering amounts of money? Walking through Hebden shortly after a flood, you'll see not many doorways have barriers fitted and out of those that do not many have been raised. Maybe that's because some businesses are in leased properties and flood-proofing is an expensive business. I don't know. 

Three things are certain: town-centre businesses will have a degree of protection from flooding; the packhorse bridge area will be spoiled for visitors and residents alike and the project will go ahead, whatever we think.

From Andy M

Monday, 7 April 2025

 I must admit I'm struggling to see from the photomontages, why the barriers/windows  are thought to be such a visual imposition.  As a trade off between flooding security and visual impact I think  they look perfectly acceptable.

From Gillian MH

Sunday, 13 April 2025

So often the narrative in Hebden revolves around businesses that are affected by flooding, rather than residential properties. Yet another news item had reporters interviewing shop owners, who were largely dismissive of the plans. Personally I'd rather lose the wavy steps entirely if it meant not having to slop out raw sewerage from my home every time the river rises.

From Janet Moore

Thursday, 17 April 2025

 Is it correct that The Environment Agency and Calderdale Council intend to close the park in Hebden Bridge for up to 5 years, so that the
heavy machinery and equipment to be used for the flood defences can be stored there?