Residents celebrate as incinerator leaves Sowerby Bridge after decade-long campaign
The company behind the site said last month they had 'no intention' to operate incinerator
Hello and welcome to The Calderdale Lead!
I hope you’ve all had a good week so far.
In today’s edition we’ve got some news that many residents in Hebden Bridge have waited a decade for - the controversial incinerator in the Ryburn Valley is no more!
The chimney and flue from the incinerator was removed from the site this week, a move that residents hope will bring the saga to an end. I’ve got details and reaction below.
Plus, we’ve got a couple of nuggets in the Calderdale Digest.
So, on with the news…
Calderdale Digest
👷🏻Around three quarters of workers made redundant when a town’s largest employer largely closed late last year have found new work.
It was a major blow for industry in the upper Calder Valley in Calderdale when global mining technology company Weir Minerals announced it was closing its Todmorden operation.
Responding to a question about support at full council, Cabinet member for Regeneration and Transport, Cllr Sarah Courtney, said senior council leaders including its Chief Executive Robin Tuddenham had met with Weir as soon as the company indicated its intention to consult on closing the Todmorden site and had remained “closely engaged.”
The council’s Business, Employment and Skills Team worked with Weir and partners including the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the National Careers Service (NCS) and Jobcentre Plus (JCP) to assess the potential impact on Calderdale residents and co-ordinate support, said Coun Courtney (Lab), who is also a Calder ward councillor.
Support to staff at risk included in-house training and employability support which had been given by Weir, and a six-week programme of events delivered by the DWP, NCS, Citizens Advice and the Money Advice Service in late 2025.
A Jobcentre Plus jobs fair was also held in late 2025, attended by 16 employers from West Yorkshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
Information was also available from the council’s Employment Hub, DWP and NCS on how individuals could self-refer for additional support.
Of the 193 staff at risk, 156 were made redundant in late 2025, including 111 Calderdale residents, said Cllr Courtney.
“Prior to the jobs fair, around 40 per cent had already secured future employment.
“Following the event, a further 30 per cent secured roles with employers who attended.
Some employees also explored early retirement options, she said.
👨🏻🍳 Owners of an Italian restaurant in Halifax say a ten-month nightmare resulting from a multi-million pound roadworks scheme has cost them around £60,000 in reduced takings.
Cousins Lino and Antonio Massimo have built up their family restaurant at Sapore, which is in Central Street, over nine years, weathering the Covid-19 pandemic.
But major roadworks which Calderdale Council says will improve routes in and around Halifax town centre in the long run have been a nightmare, they say.
Flooding into Sapore’s basement kitchen one night this week, which attending water authorities told them resulted from a workmanship fault on paving outside, saw them take to social media to express their frustration.
The flooding incident was followed by their Business Rates bill dropping on the mat – the amount almost doubled, said Lino.
On Facebook they criticised the council and the contractors undertaking the major A629 phase 2 Halifax town centre project for lack of communication and impact the work had on their business.
The post has gone viral, with almost 400 shares to date, each containing multiple comments.
“Enough is enough – we want to give a ‘huge’ thank you to the council and Galliford Try for seemingly doing everything in their power to shut us down.
“After nearly a year of being boxed in, we have reached our breaking point,” they said.
Incinerator removal brings to a close decade-long fight for residents
By Andrew Greaves
Residents in Sowerby Bridge are celebrating after equipment for a controversial incinerator was removed from a site they have been campaigning against for a decade.
Campaigner Deb Copeland posted a picture of the equipment - including the chimney and flue - being removed from the former Calder Valley Skip Hire (CVSH) Belmont site.
Ms Copeland said: “Ten years after this group was created, a day I didn’t think would happen, has happened! The flue/chimney has been removed from the incinerator building and it looks like the incinerator has left the site!”
The prospect of a small waste incineration plant (SWIP) being operated at the Belmont site in Sowerby Bridge has seen campaigns by worried residents and politicians against the proposal running for years as well as public hearings on the issue in 2022 and 2023.
The company which used to own the site – CVSH – had won planning approval to operate the incinerator at the site following an appeal, after Calderdale Council refused permission.
But they also needed a key environmental permit to operate it.
This was granted, and challenged, twice by Calderdale Council, which then revoked the permits on both occasions – once following a Planning Inspector’s effectively refusing the permit after a public inquiry, following legal challenges from campaigners.
The removal follows a pledge by the new owners of the site, Ellete Waste Ltd, in February that they did not intend to operate an incinerator at the site or any other it currently owns.
That news was cautiously welcomed by campaigners but the fact that the removal has now taken place - it is believed CVSH still open the equipment - has been greeted with a sigh of relief.
Posting on Facebook, ward councillor Adam Wilkinson said: “Absolutely delighted that, after more than 11 years of determined campaigning, the incinerator has now left Sowerby Bridge.
“This has been a long and hard-fought battle, and today’s outcome is a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together and works closely with its councillors. Thank you to everyone who played a part in making this happen.”
Ellete Waste also owns the Mearclough site in Sowerby Bridge and a statement in February also said it will be seeking to vary a recent application to allow hazardous waste and an increase in overall permitted tonnage relating to Mearclough.
“Ellete Waste Ltd will be seeking to remove hazardous waste from that application and reduce the proposed tonnage accordingly,” they said.
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 Sunday, enjoy the rest of the week!
Andrew