Shockingly disappointing: How Calder victims see today's floods report

THE chairman of a partnership set up to improve the economic and community life of one of the Yorkshire towns most affected by last winter's floods has described today's government report on the disaster as 'shockingly disappointing'.
The flooded Co-op and Burnley Road, Mytholmroyd, last DecemberThe flooded Co-op and Burnley Road, Mytholmroyd, last December
The flooded Co-op and Burnley Road, Mytholmroyd, last December

Bob Deacon said a huge amount of work had gone on in Hebden Bridge and other flood-hit communities in West Yorkshire’s Calder Valley focused on solutions involving changes to the management of the surrounding moorland.

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The flooded Co-op and Burnley Road, Mytholmroyd, last DecemberThe flooded Co-op and Burnley Road, Mytholmroyd, last December
The flooded Co-op and Burnley Road, Mytholmroyd, last December

But Mr Deacon, who chairs the Hebden Bridge Partnership, said: “There are only two sentences about all that - on the last page.”

He said: “An opportunity has simply not been taken to assess this impact. It’s abysmal. It’s really shocking.”

Mr Deacon said he was hoping the review would include discussion of measures to force water companies operating reservoirs to have as much legal duty to reduce flood risk as they did to provide drinking water.

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He said: “As a policy issue, it’s simply not there. It’s quite shockingly disappointing.”

Huntingdon Road and Yearsley Crescent covered by floodwater after the River Ouse and River Foss burst their banks in York city centre, last DecemberHuntingdon Road and Yearsley Crescent covered by floodwater after the River Ouse and River Foss burst their banks in York city centre, last December
Huntingdon Road and Yearsley Crescent covered by floodwater after the River Ouse and River Foss burst their banks in York city centre, last December

He said it seemed that the temporary flood protection measures outlined in the report mainly related to safeguarding vital infrastructure, such a power stations, and he feared they would not be available to protect the kinds of businesses and homes that were inundated in his town in December.

He said about 90% of affected businesses in Hebden Bridge were now open again. Many had installed flood resilience measures paid for by money raised locally, Mr Deacon added.

Tim Swift, leader of Calderdale Council, said: “We are really quite disappointed. We need time to work through the implications. We really think it’s quite limited.

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“There’s some wonderful things about the immediate investment in temporary flood defences to make sure we are properly prepared for this winter. When it comes to utilities, we are disappointed that there’s not more detail. We need greater confirmation about what’s going to be done to make that happen. It doesn’t recognise the key role local authorities have in coordinating all of this. It simply doesn’t show the level of resource and commitment that is needed to make these things happen.

The winter floods led to the flood resilience reviewThe winter floods led to the flood resilience review
The winter floods led to the flood resilience review

“Around 2,000 homes and 1,000 businesses were flooded in Calderdale on Boxing Day. There are still between 250 and 300 properties where even now, people haven’t been able to go home. People need to know the same thing isn’t going to happen this winter.”