A month after the unprecedented flooding on 26 December 2015, Calderdale Council’s Leader, Cllr Tim Swift, talks about the damage and recovery work so far.
“The Boxing Day floods caused devastation across Calderdale. The impacts are extensive and widespread, and will be felt for a long time to come. Amongst those affected include an estimated 2,781 homes and 1,635 businesses, communities, the local economy, a number of schools, bridges, roads, library and visitor facilities and GP surgeries.
“Throughout this really difficult time, Calderdale’s amazing community spirit continues to shine through. I’m so impressed with how volunteers, community groups, businesses, the Council and other organisations are working relentlessly and pulling together to get the borough back on its feet. I’d like to say a heartfelt thanks to everyone involved.
“Since Boxing Day we have paid out 1,082 grants to households at a cost of £541,000; approved business grants worth over £1 million in total; inspected well over 100 bridges to make sure they’re safe to travel on and to assess any damage; bought 160 dehumidifiers for residents and businesses to use; spent more than 3000 hours removing debris and collected over 320 tonnes of waste.
“The total cost to the Council will not be known for some time, but from initial estimates it’s likely to exceed £50 million. To help us cover this amid already decreasing budgets, and to make sure residents and businesses can return to normal as soon as possible, we continue to seek further support from the government and the Leeds City Region.”
For more information on the flood recovery and support available, please visit www.calderdale.gov.uk