Rail electrification plan for Calderdale is backed
Plus: Fighting fund set up for incinerator judicial review bid
Hello and welcome to the weekend edition of The Calderdale Lead!
I hope everyone has had a good week and you’ve been able to spend some time this weekend showering your favourite person - or pet! - with love for Valentines!
In today’s edition we’ve got a story from the LDRS’ John Greenwood on a Labour council motion to push for electrification of the Calder Valley rail line - something I’m sure all of us would back given the state of the trains these days!
Plus, we look at the fund-raising efforts of the group opposed to the controversial Hebden Bridge waste incinerator as they look to raise money ahead of a judicial review.
Rail electrification ‘essential’ for Calderdale, councillors argue
By LDRS’ John Greenwood
Councillors have agreed to ramp up the pressure on transport chiefs to get the Calder Valley railway line electrified, calling it “a vital artery” for Calderdale.
They were unanimous in supporting a campaign with all other local and regional stakeholders to make the case for electrification, inviting businesses and public sector partners including health organisations to sign up.
Calderdale councillors have also instructed Chief Executive Robin Tuddenham to write to Calderdale’s two MPs, Josh Fenton-Glynn (Calder Valley) and Kate Dearden (Halifax), asking them to sign up to the campaign and lobby on its behalf.
Leader of the Council, Coun Jane Scullion is also to write to the new Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, inviting her to visit and hear the “strong” business case for electrification of the line.
But they disagreed about whether Calderdale should more central to West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Mass Transit plans, which would see a tram service linking, initially, Bradford and Leeds, suggested by a Conservative amendment.
Tabling Labour’s successful motion, Coun Katie Kimber said rail electrification of the line, used by 11 million passengers a year and promised for years, 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.
She said: “For too long Calderdale has been left waiting on the platform while other regions see investment in modern, efficient rail transport.
“It is not just used from getting from A to B but for connecting communities, driving our local economy and securing a greener future.
“I believe rail electrification is not just desirable, it is essential.
“It means faster, more reliable journeys, boosting local spend and attracting investment, more capacity and improved services, helping commuters students and businesses.”
Leader of the Conservative group, Coun Steven Leigh said his party were in full support but wanted to go a bit further, including also lobbying Chancellor Rachel Reeves and asking Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin to update the Mass Transit plan to include Calderdale.
The Calder Valley rail line was strategically important for the whole region and with electrification green lit for the Transpennine Huddersfield line, would allow service switches to be made easily in event of any incidents, he said.
But Coun Scullion said it was wrong to say Calderdale was not involved in transport plans but “it’s not everything, everywhere, all at once.”
Calderdale was very involved in bus franchising issues, she said.
Coun Scullion said her party’s motion aimed to be very focused on the rail issue.
Incinerator campaigners launch JustGiving page to help fund review
Campaigners against a controversial waste incinerator in Calderdale have raised more than £3,000 in less than a week in a bid to support a judicial review.
One of the campaigners, Malcolm Powell, has decided to issue a Judicial Review Claim against Calderdale Council regarding the grant of an Environmental Permit to Calder Valley Skip Hire to operate the incinerator at their Belmont Site, Sowerby Bridge.
The council has been urged to quash the permit, but a senior councillor says it will not do so.
The Belmont Group, which opposes the incinerator and rallies those concerned about the plant, says to pursue the Judicial Review additional funds will be necessary.
Writing on the JustGiving page, Mr Powell said: “Whilst I strongly believe the decision of the Council should be challenged for the benefit of the community and am happy to undertake the considerable work that is involved in doing so, I would hope that others would want to share the risks of the costs to do so.
“We know that there are many people who are opposed to the incinerator and who were dismayed by the decision and who want to support the best possible outcome for the future air quality in Sowerby Bridge.
“We have already shown that by coming together we can spread the load of getting the best possible advice we can and taking the action needed to challenge the Council’s decision.”
Last November, Calderdale Council granted Calder Valley Skip Hire (CVSH) a key environmental permit allowing the company to use a small waste incineration plant (SWIP) at its Belmont, Sowerby Bridge, premises, at the second time of asking.
A complicated history stretching back nearly 10 years has seen Calderdale Council refuse planning permission for the incinerator, and that decision being overturned on appeal to the planning inspectorate.
However, companies also have to have an environmental permit to run the incinerator, and following the company’s initial 2021 application objectors went to law and won the right to a judicial review of the council Cabinet’s decision to grant the permit.
After this the permit was quashed, following which the status of the permit application was deemed to be “undetermined” and the company appealed the non-determination.
But Planning Inspector John Woolcock, citing risk to health, dismissed this after an inquiry, effectively refusing it – however, as the law stands companies can lodge further applications, and a second was granted by the council late last year.
This week, campaigners lobbied councillors on their way into this week’s meeting of the full council at Halifax Town Hall.
At the council questions from the public session, Clive Wilkinson asked: “Given the overwhelming evidence provided by objectors in their comments regarding the proposed incinerator in Sowerby Bridge, would it not be prudent for the council to rescind the environmental permit to save both the council and the local resident the cost of a Judicial Review, especially given the council’s previous loss at a JR for unlawfully approving an environmental permit for the same incinerator?
“If the council do intend to proceed to a JR, what is the likely cost if you lose?”
Responding, Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, Coun Danielle Durrans said relevant officers within the council have deemed the incinerator can meet the appropriate legislative requirements and the environmental permit that has been issued would therefore not be rescinded.
“The council will respond to the Judicial Review should one be issued and the cost of which would be unknown,” she said.
To donate to the fighting fund, click here.
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