Yorkshire Water 'to review future' of Calderdale grouse shooting moors

Yorkshire Water is reviewing the future of grouse shooting moors it owns in Calderdale, following the death of a tenant, who leased its sporting rights.
Yorkshire Water is reviewing the future of its grouse moor in CalderdaleYorkshire Water is reviewing the future of its grouse moor in Calderdale
Yorkshire Water is reviewing the future of its grouse moor in Calderdale

The utility firm said it would review the future management of Baitings, Turley Holes and Higher House Moors, which spread along the South Pennines between Todmorden and Ripponden.

In a statement it said: “Sadly the tenant that leased our sporting rights passed away recently, meaning the sporting rights have been returned to us.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Before re-letting the sporting rights we have committed to reviewing all the activity on our land in the area and to look at all options for the future management of the land.

“Our aim is to ensure that we deliver the best outcome possible for the land, with a particular focus on our primary aims of protecting water quality, preventing flooding and combating climate change.”

The move has been welcomed by Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire’s Moors, which is lobbying the water company to stop leasing moorland for grouse shooting.

Over 18,000 people have contacted company chief executive Richard Flint to support ending the practice on utility moorland.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Spokesman Luke Steele said the water firm had done valuable work preventing flooding, and it was “an opportunity to restore the moor so it can mitigate flood risk and restore wildlife populations.

Yorkshire Water gets no more than £70,000 a year from its 11 leases which is peanuts.”

Bradford Council decided to end grouse shooting on Ilkley Moor last year.