Work could start soon on town’s long-delayed flooding defences

The application is for the delayed third phase of a major project to help to reduce the risk of flooding to 658 homes and businesses from Walsden Water.

If members of Calderdale Council back the proposals, when they meet at a later date, building work could begin this summer.

Almost 1,000 properties were hit by floods in the Todmorden and Walsden area in June, 2000, at a cost of around £20m. The flood defence scheme was put on hold in 2007 due to financial constraints but after a delay the Environment Agency is now pressing ahead with the project.

The proposals include building a new 500-metre flood wall along Rochdale Road, between the Shade Infant & Junior School and the Morrisons superstore.

The wall would be built in sections, varying between 1.2 metres (just under 4ft) and 2.8 metres (just over 9ft) in height. It will be made of concrete with natural stone cladding.

In addition to the new wall, sections of culvert which take Walsden Water under Todmorden town centre will be strengthened as part of the project.

Most of this work will be carried out from within the culverts to minimise disruption to the Market Hall.

The Environment Agency says its project design team has been working closely with the Todmorden Town Centre Renaissance Board Project Board and Calderdale Council to ensure that the market can trade normally during the construction works.

There will, however, be some traffic disruption through Todmorden during the works as one lane of Rochdale Road will have to be closed while the new wall sections are built.

The Environment Agency said the 18-month building programme would be tailored to ensure minimal disruption over the Christmas and Easter periods.

“While there will inevitably be some disruption during construction, it will be kept to a minimum and will result in long term benefits for the whole town as the risks and effects of flooding are significantly reduced,” said Environment Agency project manager Will Benedikz.

“We will work with businesses, the local authority and local people to make sure that all practical steps that can be taken to minimise disruption are taken.”

Mr Benedikz added that the Environment Agency planned to establish a stakeholder working group, reflecting a wide range of the town’s interests, with which it would work in partnership during the construction programme.

The Environment Agency also plans to open a compound in Salford Way, which will include an information room for people to visit if they want to raise issues of concern or check on progress.

Vegetation clearance work has already been carried out in the Rochdale Road area, pending the start of the proposed works.

This had to be completed before the start of the bird nesting season.

The first two phases of the Todmorden Flood Alleviation Scheme were designed to reduce the risk of flooding to properties from the River Calder and were completed in 2007.

The work included flood storage areas at Centre Vale Park and Millwood and the construction of new flood walls along Sackville Street, River Street, Key Syke Lane, Commercial Street and Hall Royd Crescent.

The Environment Agency is continuing to investigate options for flood defence works at Walsden village, which were part of the original Todmorden Flood Alleviation Scheme proposals.

If anyone has any comments or questions about the project they can contact Will Benedikz, Project Manager, at the Environment Agency, Phoenix House, Global Avenue, Leeds LS11 8PG, telephone 0113 213 4641 or email [email protected]

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