Mayor lobbying Government over faster rail links for Calderdale
Plus, boost for youth mental health services in Halifax
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Calderdale Lead!
The mornings and nights are getting lighter and it finally looks like we’re about to get some good weather.
In today’s edition we’ve got more from our exclusive chat with West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin who has pledged to lobby the Government to electrify the Calder Valley rail line.
We reported a couple of weeks ago that Calderdale Council had called for Brabin - and our MPs - to put pressure on the Government to do so. (And it’s fair to say they’re pretty chuffed she’s taken up the mantle!).
Plus, we’ve got news of a financial boost for youth mental health services across Calderdale.
So, on with the news…
Council joy at mayor’s support for rail electrification push
Additional reporting by Zoë Grünewald
Calderdale town hall chiefs have welcomed support from West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin in the campaign to electrify the Calder Valley rail line.
Brabin told The Lead’s Westminster editor Zoë Grünewald at last week’s Convention of the North she is lobbying the Government to put the plans back on the agenda to help boost the borough.
She said: “I'm lobbying government as part of our transport plan. We know that with access to Manchester to Leeds, we need options and choices.
“And you'll know that Halifax is on fire currently. It's an amazing city, and the Piece Hall brings thousands of people, particularly in the summer, when it has its summer concerts. We want to be able to make sure people can get to those concerts safely on public transport but also swiftly.
“I was privileged to be in the cab of a northern train the other day, and goodness me, we can definitely go faster!”
Calderdale Council recently backed a motion to ramp up the pressure on transport chiefs to electrify the Calder Valley line.
When told of Brabin’s support, deputy council leader Coun Scott Patient told The Calderdale Lead: “For years, Calderdale Council has championed the case for the electrification of the Calder Valley Railway Line, a number of council motions receiving unanimous support in that time.
“Access to transportation is a priority too for the new Labour government which has announced its intention to establish Great British Railways.
“This coupled with devolution plans which include a greater role for the Mayor of West Yorkshire in planning and development of the rail network and infrastructure.”
Speaking at last month’s council meeting, Labour’s Coun Katie Kimber said electrification of the line, used by 11 million passengers a year, would bring benefit to those using it for business, work, school and leisure, also a key tourism link and vital to help tackle climate challenges by replacing dirty diesel with clean electric powered trains.
And her colleague Coun Patient added there was a strong business case for doing so.
“Despite the Calder Valley Line previously being prioritised for electrification, disappointingly, it has been left out of current upgrades to routes connecting Leeds, Bradford and Manchester,” he said.
“We believe that now is the time to renew the need for electrification, we were pleased that our recent motion to Keep Calderdale Moving received cross party support in the chamber.
“We will continue to work with local stakeholders and regional and national government to bring Calderdale the rail upgrade that all our residents and businesses deserve.”
Boost for youth mental health services as MP secures £250k for Halifax centre
Hundreds of young people across Calderdale will be able to access vital mental health support after MP Kate Dearden secured a Government grant for a centre in Halifax.
Ms Dearden has been lobbying the Government for increased mental health spending in the town and has now secured £242,400 in funding for Noah’s Ark Centre as part of new government investment in community-based Early Support Hubs.
Early Support Hubs offer open-access, drop-in services for young people aged 11-25, helping them with exam stress, financial difficulties, employment, and relationships—without the need for a referral or doctor’s appointment.
By providing early intervention, these hubs help prevent more severe mental health issues from developing.
The Noah’s Ark Centre, the largest voluntary-sector provider of therapeutic services in Calderdale, plays a crucial role in improving local mental, emotional, and financial wellbeing. Working in partnership with Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group and Calderdale Council, the centre offers:
Low-cost counselling services, ensuring accessible mental health support.
Targeted interventions for young people through an integrated wellbeing service.
Specialist outreach for LGBTQ+ youth, care leavers, and young people with SEND
Ms Dearden said: "This funding is life-changing—and for some, life-saving."
"I have been lobbying Ministers to secure this funding because I know just how important Noah’s Ark is to young people in Halifax.
“In communities like mine, where the cost-of-living crisis has hit hardest and deprivation levels are high, the financial and mental health support provided by Noah’s Ark can be life-changing—and for some, life-saving.
“Beyond their work at the centre, I have seen firsthand the impact of their outreach work, as they have joined me on several occasions at my cost-of-living advice surgeries to support residents in need.”
Andrew Sykes, Funding Manager at Noah’s Ark Centre said: "The extension of the Early Years Support Hubs funding for a further 12 months is great news for Noah's Ark and the young people of Calderdale.
“Mental health is a complex issue and often requires a multi-faceted, holistic approach to derive the best outcomes.”
That’s it for this midweek edition of The Calderdale Lead.
We’ve got so much planned over the next few months so… you’re in a position to do so, please consider taking a paid subscription so I can keep popping into your inbox twice a week with a Calderdale digest and stories.
As always, if you have anything you think I should be reporting on or looking into then I’m on calderdale@thelead.uk
Enjoy the rest of the week and we’ll be back in your inbox on Sunday!
Andrew