Joint press release with the Environment Agency
- £41 million investment will protect 400 homes and businesses from flooding this winter
- Construction of key flood defences is complete, with final touches to be made in the New Year
- Joint Environment Agency and Calderdale Council project will make Mytholmroyd resilient to climate change
Construction of Mytholmroyd’s new Flood Alleviation Scheme is almost complete and will provide greater protection to around 400 homes and businesses this winter, as well as local infrastructure, schools and other public amenities.
Over £41 million has been invested in the new defences, which have been declared as ‘winter ready’ today by the Environment Agency.
Final touches to the scheme, such as scour protection works and stone cladding to the walls, will be completed in the New Year.
Vital elements which have now been completed as part of the scheme across Mytholmroyd, Brearley and Luddenden Foot,include construction of new, raised and improved flood walls, the relocation of Caldene Bridge, widening of the river channel at key locations and flood proofing of many buildings next to the River Calder and Cragg Brook.
The flood defences have been developed by the Environment Agency in partnership with Calderdale Council. Design and construction of the scheme was carried out by the Environment Agency’s main contractor VBA, a joint venture comprising VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business.
Paul Swales, senior flood risk advisor for the Environment Agency, said:
“We are delighted that the Mytholmroyd Flood Alleviation Scheme is ready to better protect the community this winter.
worked hard to complete the project as efficiently as possible, while adhering to Government guidelines for safe working during the coronavirus pandemic. We have a few final touches to make to the scheme in the New Year, and then we plan to celebrate this fantastic achievement in the Spring.
“Thank you to local residents, businesses and commuters for their patience while the construction of this important and complex project has been carried out.”
Cllr Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Resilience, said:
“Ensuring that the Mytholmroyd Flood Alleviation Scheme is winter-ready is a major milestone in the ongoing partnership work to protect Calderdale from flooding, and a really positive step forward in our fight against climate change.
“A huge amount of joint work has gone into this scheme, and we are delighted that the community is now better protected. We know this will bring much-needed reassurance to local residents and businesses who are sadly familiar with the devastating impact of flooding.
“The Council, our partner organisations and communities are doing everything we can to reduce flood risk and build resilience. The Mytholmroyd scheme is part of a wide range of continued engineering-, nature- and community-based measures across the whole borough.”
Chris Blenkarn, VBA senior project manager said:
“We are happy to have been involved in such an important project, supporting the Environment Agency and Calderdale Council to improve village defences, and ensure they are in place for the Christmas period”
Now the project team is working with the Department for Education to look at installing property flood resilience measures to Burnley Road Academy which will be in addition to the completed flood defence works to help better protect the school and reduce the disruption to school children, parents and teachers from future flooding.
For latest updates about the scheme visit www.eyeoncalderdale.com(external link) or follow #MytholmroydFAS @EnvAgencyYNE on Twitter.
If anyone has any questions about the scheme they can email the project team:-mytholmroydFAS@environment-agency.gov.uk
With the increasing impact of climate change, it is impossible to completely stop the risk of flooding, particularly in the Calder Valley due to the geography of the area. Residents are urged to sign up for free flood warnings to get vital time to save themselves and their possessions from the devastating effects of flooding by visiting www.gov.uk/flood(external link) or contacting Floodline on 0345 988 1188. They can also check their flood risk online at https://www.gov.uk/check-flood-risk(external link). Find out what to do when you receive a flood warning and how to prepare for a flood at https://floodsdestroy.campaign.gov.uk/(external link)
The Government is investing £475m in Yorkshire to better protect 66,000 homes across the county as part of our current six year programme to 2021. For more information about the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-strategy-for-england–2(external link)