Calderdale Council and Yorkshire Water have signed a landmark agreement to improve the health of the River Calder.
In the first agreement of its kind in the Yorkshire region, a new Memorandum of Understanding sets out how the two organisations will work more closely together to tackle pollution, improve water quality and support nature-based solutions across the Calder catchment.The River Calder flows through many of the borough’s towns and villages and plays a vital role in the local environment, wildlife and communities.
Like many rivers across the country, the Calder faces challenges linked to a combination of factors, including historic industrial pollution, sewage discharges, pollution from surrounding land, residential misconnections and highway runoff.
Improving the health of this important waterway is a key part of a range of local, regional and national priorities. Protecting and restoring the borough’s rivers and riverbanks is one of the key themes of the Calderdale Ecological Emergency Plan, and a recent Council Scrutiny review on river pollution looked at ways to improve the health of rivers in Calderdale.
One of the recommendations of this review was to strengthen joint working between the Council and Yorkshire Water. The new agreement provides a clear framework for how both organisations will work together to improve the health of the River Calder.
The document, signed by both the Council and Yorkshire Water, focuses on the following priority areas:
- Reducing the operation of Combined Sewage Overflows to help improve water quality
- Improving coordination of highways drainage and surface water connections
- Identifying, investigating and resolving property misconnections
- Delivering sustainable catchment management and nature-based solutions to slow the flow of rainwater before it reaches the sewers and the river.
- Increasing water storage and attenuation
- Working together to raise public awareness on pollution prevention, such as encouraging people to not pour fats, oils and grease down sinks or flush wet wipes.
- Sharing information for better targeting of work and to minimise duplication
- Holding regular review meetings to track progress and adjust priorities
These pledges also build on further recent commitments, including Yorkshire Water’s plans to upgrade 19 Combined Sewage Overflows and the Barnsley Green Treatment Works in Calderdale between 2025 and 2030, as well as ongoing joint work between both organisations to tackle property misconnections.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Housing, Cllr Scott Patient, said:
“The issue of river pollution is something that’s rightly had a large amount of national focus, and we’re passionate about the health of our local waterways and committed to doing all we can to improve them.
“Sadly, the River Calder, which flows across parts of West Yorkshire and through many Calderdale towns and villages, faces challenges relating to pollution. There are a number of different causes, but we’re determined to do all we can to deliver change locally and we’ve been working closely with local partners and communities to try and highlight these and develop a plan to tackle the issue.
“The signing of a shared Memorandum of Understanding with Yorkshire Water is a milestone in this work, and the first agreement of its kind in the region. It aims to deliver real and lasting change, providing a focus for our joint working and supporting a positive working partnership.
“The priority areas include actions for both organisations and build upon a significant amount of work already taking place.”
Clare Beasant, River Health Improvement manager at Yorkshire Water, said:
“Improving the health of our rivers across Yorkshire is incredibly important to us and to our customers, and something we’re absolutely committed to achieving.
“Whilst we’re investing significantly in our assets to reduce their impact on the environment, it’s also vital that we work with all local stakeholders and communities to knowledge share, plan, and co-ordinate work. By signing this agreement, we’re building on existing work and bolstering our ability to improve river health collectively.”
More information about the work taking place as part of the Ecological Emergency Action Plan, can be found at calderdale.gov.uk/environment/countryside-conservation/ecological-emergency-action-plan-short(external link)
Nature is a key theme of Vision 34 – the shared, long-term ambition to work towards over the next 10 years to make Calderdale a better place for everyone, based on the stories that unite us. Find out more at calderdale.gov.uk/council/our-vision/vision-2034(external link)