Mytholmroyd’s new flood alleviation scheme, providing greater protection to 400 homes and businesses, as well as local infrastructure, schools and other public amenities has been officially opened.

Over £41 million has been invested in the new defences, as part of partnership working to make the village more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Funding was secured for the scheme following the devastating floods of Boxing Day 2015 when 2,781 homes and 1,008 businesses were affected throughout Calderdale.

Mytholmroyd experienced its highest ever recorded flood with approximately 300 properties and 70 businesses being flooded as well as the church, church hall, two schools and the community centre.

The Environment Agency has worked in partnership with Calderdale Council and alongside members of Calderdale Partnership Board to provide Mytholmroyd with the best possible flood protection.

Design and construction was completed by the VBA Joint Venture comprising VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and SNC Lavalin’s Atkins business.

The completed scheme includes the construction of new, raised and improved flood walls, the relocation of Caldene Bridge, widening of the river channel at two key locations and flood proofing of many buildings next to the River Calder and Cragg Brook.

The project has been officially opened by the Chair of the Environment Agency, Emma Howard Boyd, and West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin.

Cllr Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Resilience, said:

“The completion of the Flood Alleviation Scheme is a landmark moment for the entire Mytholmroyd community. Bringing greater protection to residents and businesses is a long-standing priority for the Council and our partner organisations, as we continue to work together to increase flood resilience and tackle the climate emergency.

“The increased risk of flooding is sadly one of the devastating impacts of climate change that we are living with across the borough due to our unique landscape.

“The complex Mytholmroyd scheme has been a challenging part of the range of measures to reduce flood risk throughout Calderdale, but one that we’ve been proud to be involved in, because of what it means to the local community to have extra protection.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, described the scheme as “a brilliant example” of how the Combined Authority, Calderdale Council and the Environment Agency can work together to protect thousands of homes and businesses from the ever-growing threat of extreme flooding caused by climate change.

“We know that extreme weather and major floods are more likely to happen in future and, as Mayor, I will continue to work in partnership to ensure more communities around our region are better protected and to lobby government for the funding we need,” she added.

Partnership funding included contribution from European Structural Investment Fund

The £41m project has been funded partly by government and partnership funding, through Defra, and contributions from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF), the local levy and the Department for Education.

The scheme received £4.5m funding from the Leeds City Region Growth Deal – a £1 billion-plus package of Government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region delivered in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The Environment Agency said that 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. However, while the scheme won’t prevent the frequency of floods or their severity, it will give residents a better standard of protection and offer valuable time to prepare for the risk of flooding.

Further locations across the Calder Valley are to benefit from further investment with the start of the construction of flood defences at Hebden Bridge to better protect 400 properties as well as a scheme at Brighouse which is being developed.

Whilst the Environment Agency is progressing with these schemes, Government funding has enabled the agency to explore other potential projects across the Calder Valley at Walsden, Sowerby Bridge, Copley and Elland.

The Environment Agency said it is continuing to work with partners including Yorkshire Water, The Source Partnership, Moors for the Future and The National Trust to look at a range of measures to reduce flood risk across the Calder Valley including natural flood management and upstream storage.