Campaigners to keep pressure up for much-needed lift at Todmorden station
Funding for the work has already been secured but no work has started yet
Hello and welcome to The Calderdale Lead.
I hope you’ve all had a good week and are enjoying the weekend.
In today’s edition we’ve got details of a protest at Todmorden train station in which campaigners vowed to keep up the pressure on rail authorities to finally install much-needed lifts.
It’s something that’s been in the pipeline for what feels like an age but, despite the funding being there and areas being cordoned off last year, people with mobility issues are still waiting.
Plus, we’ve got a couple of nuggets in the Calderdale Digest.
Calderdale Digest
🚸 A youth club for children with special educational and learning disabilities (SEND) has closed after almost half a century due to council budget cuts.
Children and young people who attend the two-hour fortnightly sessions at the Gateway Youth Club met at the Orangebox, Halifax, meeting place for the last time at the end of March.
Parents and carers have urged Calderdale Council to look for alternative funding to keep it going, or consider alternative provision that might be put in place.
A senior councillor says after 15 years where the council had had to make cuts, the axe is falling more on services that are discretionary rather than statutory, and there are alternatives for activities for the children in place.
Parent Jackie Jessett submitted a deputation to children’s services watchdog urging them to take up the case, questioning the council’s commitment to inclusion as it had removed the support for Gateway, which has run since 1977.
“Many of the children who go to Gateway are happier, more settled and more confident because they have a safe place where they can socialise, build friendships and feel accepted.
“Although there may be other mainstream youth clubs available, disabled children and young people are often far too vulnerable to attend these settings – they need a safe, inclusive environment with staff who understand their needs and where they feel secure,” she wrote.
Cllr Adam Wilkinson, Cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services, said the decision had not been taken lightly and was carefully considered.
Staff said the process had been five years in the making, rather than been sudden, within wider processes including what the service could reasonably deliver with staff it had funding for, including for children with additional needs and support which could be given them.
❎ There’s just over a week to register to vote ahead of the forthcoming local elections next month.
Polling cards for the May 7 poll – an “all-out” election in Calderdale with every seat up for grabs – have already started dropping on doormats, while some voters are likely to have received their postal ballots, if they have registered to vote in that way.
The deadline for registering to vote in these elections is by 11.59pm on April 20, 2026, according to the Government.
Calderdale Council’s election pages have advice on what to do, and include a link to the Government website where you can register electronically.
The council advises you will be asked to enter your name, address, date of birth and other details.
You will need your National Insurance number – this can be found on your national insurance card, on official paperwork like payslips or letters about pensions, benefits and tax credits, says the council.
The council say if your application is approved, they will let you know you have been registered.
If you do not have a National Insurance number, you can still apply online but the council will ask you for proof of your identity and address, it says.
You can also complete an application form or phone the council to register – you need to contact the council’s Electoral Services unit.
This is based at Mulcture House, Mulcture Hall Road, Halifax, HX1 1SP, telephone 01422 393103 and the department can also be contacted by email:
electoral-services@calderdale.gov.uk
“Just get on with it” - Calder Valley MP says Tod needs new lift now
By John Greenwood
Campaigners for much-needed lifts at Todmorden Rail Station intend to keep the heat on to ensure they are finally built.
Gathering at Todmorden Rail Station on the Calder Valley line, they included people who have disabilities explaining how simply travelling by rail is difficult and requires extra planning an expense because the station is not fully accessible.
Frustration comes from the knowledge that funding is in place for the lifts scheme – the Bradford and Leeds direction platform can only be reached by steps, while the Manchester platform can be reached other than by steps only by a steep slope.
Among those who are pressing the case are local councillors and Calder Valley MP Josh Fenton-Glynn, who has worked on getting the lifts for 12 years, through his own days as a councillor to raising it in Parliament with the rail minister earlier this year.
Two of the campaigners explained how their lives are made more difficult by not being able to easily access their own rail station.
Paul Thompson and Meg Kennedy both explained that while they can to travel to Manchester, coming back they have to stay on the train until the next stop down the line from Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, which is accessible.
They both said that then requires a taxi journey home to Todmorden.
Paul said on one journey returning from Manchester, when he had to get off at Todmorden, he had no choice but to come down the steps from the platform on his bottom, on winter’s day.
The usual way home is to get off at Hebden Bridge and get a taxi back – but he pointed out Todmorden station is only minutes from his home.
Also a Todmorden resident, Meg said although the Manchester platform can be reached, it is up a steep slope, difficult in a wheelchair, and the return journey, or one made directly in the Bradford and Leeds direction, where steps are the only option, means going to Hebden Bridge to be able to get off.
It makes what should be a simple journey hard work, she said.
“You’ve got to arrange everything.
“If I go to Manchester or away for a weekend, I have to make sure I can get off at Hebden Bridge and have to get a taxi – it’s the expense as well,” said Meg.
Mr Fenton-Glynn said the funding and agreement for the project is there.
“They just need to get on with it,” he said.
Todmorden ward councillor Diana Tremayne said after issues including a contractor needing to be replaced Network Rail are taking the project on and approval was back to the design stage.
They are aware there have been a lot of issues and are addressing these which is positive – “but we are worried there will be further slippage” and there was a need to keep it in the public eye, she said.
Above all, said Cllr Tremayne: “We want to show it is about real people – people need to access the station – and we want to hear their stories.”
Councillors say they have raised the issue at every relevant West Yorkshire Combined Authority meeting, and earlier this year when the issue was raised with her, Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin agreed everyone should be able to access trains and too many West Yorkshire stations were not accessible.
Department of Transport Access For All funding was secured for the Todmorden project for lifts to serve both platforms in 2019, after years of campaigning.
But people have been left scratching their heads wanting to know why the lifts promised have still not appeared, seven years later.
Lifts serving both platforms were set to be installed in spring 2025, but despite work areas being fenced off, and traffic lights in place outside the station, in 2024, there was no evidence of anything happening, residents including former councillor Clare Townley reported.
That’s all for this edition of The Calderdale Lead. Don’t forget that if you’ve got a story you think we should be covering then please email calderdale@thelead.uk and we’ll take a look.
Until Wednesday, enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Andrew