New Calderdale-set TV drama to air this Sunday
Plus, Calderdale Council warns of fresh cuts to balance books...
Hello and welcome to The Calderdale Lead!
Apologies for the radio silence over the last week or so, it’s been far harder getting access to Wi-fi on a cruise ship than I anticipated!
The ship itself charged $35 a day for access and the 4G was barely strong enough to send an old-school SMS let alone jump online and do anything productive!
But, the good news is I’m back and fully refreshed with a special Friday edition…
In this edition, we’ve got a look ahead to the TV debut of Riot Women, the new Calderdale-set drama from the genius that is Sally Wainwright.
Sally and the cast were in the borough this week for a special premiere in Hebden Bridge and the show airs from Sunday.
Plus, there’s a warning that more cuts will be needed by Calderdale Council to balance the books next year. My LDR colleague John Greenwood has the latest from the council chamber…
So, on with the news…
Calderdale set for TV spotlight again as Riot Women hits screens
By Andrew Greaves
Sally Wainwright is one of those rare screenwriters who seems to have the ability to turn out TV gold every time.
And on Sunday, Wainwright fans will get the chance to see her latest sure-to-be-a-classic TV show, set, as is often the case, right here in the borough.
Riot Women tells the tale five menopausal women who form a punk rock band to take part in a local talent contest.
The six-part series features Friday Night Dinner star Tamsin Greig, musical theatre actress Rosalie Craig, and Scott & Bailey’s Amelia Bullmore, alongside Joanna Scanlon and Lorraine Ashbourne.
The show is set in Hebden Bridge, where Wainwright and the cast held a premiere this week.
And Wainwright talked about here love for the area in an audience Q+A following the screening.
She said: “It’s so beautiful here, I love being here and I love seeing it on screen, it just looks so good on screen. It’s a real strength in a TV show to have a strong sense of place, of identity. Hebden Bridge absolutely lends itself to that, it’s so colourful, it’s got so much character.
“You’re never short of somewhere exciting to film anything. And then it’s got the hills, you can’t look anywhere without hills. And I think that was a big factor for me – you don’t have to design any of it, it’s all there.”
Local viewers may recognise key filming locations such as Calder Holmes Park and The Albert Pub in Hebden Bridge, Calderdale Royal Hospital, Holdsworth House and The Old Cock pub in Halifax, St Michael’s Church Hall in Mytholmroyd and Nanholme Mill in Todmorden.
Calderdale is becoming increasingly well known across the country as a great place to film. Few places can offer its unique blend of beautiful landscapes, heritage and the warmest welcome. It’s a film friendly place, and Calderdale Council works closely with crews to make their experience on a TV or film shoot the best it can be.
The role of the Council’s responsive filming team includes issuing filming permits, advising on locations and sorting traffic orders to help bring scripts and screenplay to life.
Cllr Sarah Courtney, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: “I’ve been a huge fan of Sally Wainwright’s work for years and can’t wait to watch her latest series.
I know many people across our communities are keen to see Calderdale on their screens again, and it always brings a real feeling of local pride. It’s exciting for people to see productions being filmed in their towns, as this helps them see how they are made and that there may be opportunities for people like them to be involved in creative industries.”
All episodes of Riot Women are available on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Sunday (October 12), with the first episode airing on BBC One at 9pm.
Town Hall chiefs warn of more budget cuts to balance the books
By John Greenwood
Calderdale Council will need to make more cuts to balance its budget next year, although there is hope that this tempered by Government’s reviewing of “fair funding” for local authorities.
Senior councillors heard funding changes being considered by the Government might benefit councils like Calderdale, giving more weight – and cash – to local authorities with higher levels of deprivation and lower Council Tax bases.
But, Cabinet member for Resources, Cllr Silvia Dacre said that the changes would not fully wipe out the need for some cuts.
Councils who had benefited from Government funding arrangements over recent years were likely to push back against changes, said Cllr Dacre.
However, Leader of the Council, Clr Jane Scullion, was more optimistic that less of a weighting to rural areas, where councils had to cover more distance to deliver services, or authorities with big Business Rate and Council Tax receipts – including cities like London – would benefit places like Calderdale.
Whereas boroughs with a lot of Band E properties could bring in a lot of Council Tax revenue, places like Calderdale, where most homes fall into Band A, raising less money, could receive more Government funding as a result of changes.
“We feel quite hopeful that it might actually give us a bit of relief in terms of this budget process,” she said.
Cabinet was considering the authority’s Mid Term Financial Plan (MTFP), which covers 2026-27 to 2028-29, also the “opening salvo” in budget deliberations for 2026-27, said Cllr Scullion.
Cllr Dacre said the review meant there was uncertainty around what the council might have to spend in 2026-27 because it had not been finalised yet.
She warned: “However, inevitably the proposals will disadvantage other local authorities and if as a result of the consultation the Government does amend the current suggestions, we could lose out and find ourselves having further cuts to make.”
Directorates continually review how the council can most effectively and efficiently achieve the outcomes it wants from services as well as meeting its value-for-money duty to local taxpayers and Government, said Cllr Dacre.
There was good news, albeit with some caution, regarding the council’s general balances – reserves the council has available in case of emergency.
“I’m pleased that we retain general balances of over £7 million, which are in excess of the agreed level of £5 million.
“The plans also recognises and reminds us that we must be cautious and endeavour to avoid the use of reserves to support revenue spend,” she said.
The council should continue working towards replenishing these from 2026-27 onwards as planned – the MTFP sets out the timetable and general approach to budget setting, providing a review of resilience and reserves, she said.
Major financial challenges include familiar ones, according to the report.
“Children’s and adults’ social care, special educational needs and disabilities, (SEND), highways, and waste management continue to drive overspend.
“Previous budget increases have not fully covered actual costs – most savings plans have been delivered effectively, but further efficiencies will be required,” it said.
That’s it for this edition, I’ll be back on Sunday with more news from across the borough.
In the meantime, you probably know how to get in touch by now but it’s calderdale@thelead.uk for any news tips, comments, complaints or just general chit-chat.
Until Sunday, enjoy the weekend and thanks for reading!
Andrew