Domestic abuse incidents fall in Calderdale
Decrease in incidents across borough was sharper than across West Yorkshire
Hello and welcome to The Calderdale Lead!
I hope you’ve all had a good week and haven’t been disrupted too much by Storm Goretti. I think we’ve managed, somehow, to avoid the worst of it so far!
In today’s issue we’ve got some very welcome news that incidents of domestic abuse in Calderdale have fallen faster than across West Yorkshire as a whole.
Plus, in the Calderdale Digest, we’ve got news of new access for Todmorden Town Hall and details of cash available for landowners to help alleviate flooding.
Because it’s January, we’re offering 50% off a paid subscription to The Calderdale Lead. Independent journalism is hard to come by these days, and this is the best way to support what I do and make sure I can keep doing it. You can look at the offer here.
So, on with the news…
Calderdale Digest
🏦Listed building consent has been given to allow alterations to a ramp and stair making access to the historic Todmorden Town Hall more mobility friendly.
As a Grade I listed building, there were conservation issues which had to be considered regarding the changes, said planning officers.
The steps and access ramp were approved in 2019 but it has since become apparent that changes to the design are required in order to comply with Building Regulations, they said.
The proposed balustrades and handrails will follow the design and external finish of existing ones around Todmorden Town Hall, mounted to new ramp and stair structures, said supporting papers with the application.
However, the railings and handrails would be attached to the newly built stairs and ramp, with no fittings into the historic fabric of the town hall, so there would be no physical harm to the listed building, the planners agreed.
The 19th century Town Hall, built by the town’s biggest cotton magnates the Fielden family, was designed by John Gibson, who was an was an assistant to Sir Charles Barry, assisting him with the drawings for the Houses of Parliament and it is deemed to be of national architectural significance as a building by an eminent Victorian architect.
🌿Landowners wishing to apply for the latest round of funding to help manage flooding in Calderdale have until Thursday to do so.
The latest – sixth – round of funding for natural flood management (NFM) schemes brings the investments close to the £1 million mark of what is seen as one of the tools Calderdale can deploy to try and alleviate devastating flooding which has affected the borough since the Millennium.
Calderdale Council and the Environment Agency’s NFM Grant Scheme aims to support farmers and landowners to implement natural flood management (NFM) techniques.
Methods have included planting trees and hedgerows and building leaky dams, all of which help slow the flow of water down steep-sided valleys, reducing the flood risk downstream.
Natural flood management reduces flood risk by slowing the release of rainwater during storms, supports biodiversity by creating vital habitats for wildlife, combats climate change by locking carbon in the soil and boosts ecosystem resilience, supporting the health of land and waterways, says the council.
Natural flood management projects build upon wider efforts already under way in Calderdale, including the ambitious Landscapes for Water partnership, an initiative, involving Yorkshire Water, the National Trust, White Rose Forest and others, which is working to restore natural processes across land owned by partner organisations in the Upper Calder and Colne catchments, says the council.
Incidents of domestic abuse DOWN in Calderdale as council hails action
By John Greenwood
The number of domestic abuse incidents reported in Calderdale to late 2025 fell when compared to the previous year, according to a report.
The report from Calderdale council officers who deal with domestic abuse to Calderdale Health and Wellbeing Board reported the numbers had dropped by 3.6 per cent.
Calderdale, similar to all areas across West Yorkshire has seen a decrease in domestic crimes, the board was told.
West Yorkshire overall had seen a decrease of 1.5 per cent.
The report said there had been a decrease in the victim repeat rate for Calderdale of 2.4 per cent over the same period.
The report covered progress on the five-year domestic abuse strategy which was approved in 2023, how performance against achieving aims and objectives to counter domestic abuse is being scrutinised, and ongoing work, including that of partner groups.
Last year a refresh of the council’s safe accommodation assessments was completed, recommendations from an independent consultant including a goal of reducing repeat offending and ensure appropriate responses and support are in place for those who harm to address their offending, board members heard.
Calderdale has 21 safe accommodation places in the borough.
During discussions, members noted that the Cabinet’s Budget proposals for 2026-27 to 2028-29 proposes continued funding for Calderdale’s Domestic Abuse Support Service, though noting the approval of the budget is a decision for the full Calderdale Council – members will meet to pass a budget in late February.
At the meeting the board also considered annual safeguarding reports from both Calderdale Safeguarding Children Partnership and Calderdale Safeguarding Adults Board.
That’s it for this edition, thanks for reading.
Don’t forget you can get in touch by leaving a comment here or by emailing calderdale@thelead.uk.
Until Wednesday, have a great week!
Andrew