New platform shines spotlight on Calderdale creatives
Plus, reservoir levels rise across Yorkshire for first time since January
Hello and welcome to The Calderdale Lead.
Well, autumn is well and truly upon now isn’t it? I’m still trying to hold out on putting the central heating on but another couple of days of this wet and windy weather and I might fold!
In today’s edition, we’ve got details of a new platform that is Calderdale's creative talent in the spotlight.
Plus, this recent wet weather has brought some good news to the county - the hose pipe ban may soon be lifted! Full details below.
So, on with the news…
Calderdale creatives urged to join directory to showcase talents
By Andrew Greaves
We all know that Calderdale is a hotbed for creative types.
Now, new online directory is launching to showcase the artists, creative freelancers, and cultural professionals who live and work right here in the borough.
The CalderdaleCreates directory is a searchable platform that allows creative professionals to share their skills.
From graphic designers and photographers to theatre makers and writers, it will make it easier for people to discover and commission Calderdale's diverse creative talent for projects and collaborations.
The directory also includes cultural organisations like theatres, galleries and music venues.
The initiative aims to strengthen Calderdale's creative economy by connecting local talent with opportunities within the borough and beyond.
The directory launch coincides with a CalderdaleCreates gathering on October 2 called ‘Shape our future and tackle tough times together'.
During the event, Calderdale’s creative community will come together to shape the future direction of the network. The evening will also include information about trade union support for creative workers.
Laurie Sansom, Chair of the CalderdaleCreates steering group, and Artistic Director of Northern Broadsides, said: "Calderdale is home to incredible creative talent. As a sector, we contribute to the economy, help make our communities more vibrant, and put Calderdale on the map as a place where creativity flourishes. But individually, we can sometimes be our own best-kept secrets.
"We're encouraging all creative professionals and cultural organisations to create a directory profile and join us on October 2. It’s free, and it could connect you with your next collaboration or commission. The more of us who are visible, the stronger our collective voice becomes in demonstrating what the creative sector brings to Calderdale."
The CalderdaleCreates directory is part of wider plans to support Calderdale's creative sector through to March 2026, including training sessions, networking events, toolkits and advocacy work to strengthen the voice of creative professionals.
Anyone wanting to join the directory can do so by clicking here.
Wet weather brings welcome rise in reservoir levels
By Andrew Greaves
This week’s wet weather might have been a pain for most of us trying to go about our business.
But it has had a positive effect on the reservoir levels across Yorkshire with the first recorded rise since January.
Yorkshire’s reservoirs stocks are now 30.8% – a 0.2% increase for the seven days to Monday. Heavy rainfall on Monday afternoon and into Tuesday morning will not have made its way through the catchment to the reservoirs.
The recent rainfall follows a historically dry first half of the year, drought declaration for Yorkshire by the Environment Agency in June, and the hottest summer on record in the county.
While the rain is welcome, hosepipe restrictions remain in place and will continue until reservoirs have recovered over the autumn and into winter.
Yorkshire Water says it will continue to review resource levels and remove the restrictions once the reservoirs have recovered.
Dave Kaye, Yorkshire Water’s director of water services, said: “With the start of autumn, we’ve seen a lot more rain. It’s incredibly welcome, and it has had a positive impact on our reservoirs and river levels. Further heavy rain earlier this week will still be making its way through the catchments, which will also contribute to improvements in reservoir and groundwater levels over the coming days.
“While this is positive, we still have a long way to go to get our reservoir levels back to where they need to be. Reservoirs are still the lowest they have ever been for this time of year, and we need this wet weather to continue throughout the autumn and winter.
“We were recently granted a number of drought orders and permits which allow us to abstract more water from the Ouse and the Wharfe and to reduce the flows out of reservoirs in the south and north-west of the region. This will lower the burden on our reservoirs, allowing them to recover during periods of rainfall like we have been seeing.”
Mr Kaye added that customers had been doing their bit to save water - leading to a 10% decrease in demand.
And the company, he said, was working hard to bring leakage down and reacting to leaks with repairs completed 33% faster, on average, over the last few weeks.
That’s it for this edition - thanks for reading!
Andrew