Clearance work to remove gravel from a river in north east England is due to begin next week, it has been announced.

The project at Hebden Water, a tributary of the River Calder, is part of the Environment Agency's (EA) recovery work following the floods at Christmas.

A contractor has been appointed to remove the gravels from several locations including Old Gate, Waterside Fold and Innovation Weir.

The appointed company will use a mini excavator to improve the flow of the river, with gravel clearance already completed near Morrisons on Walsden Water, Callis Bridge, Colden Clough and all of the silt traps between Cornholme and Todmorden.


Andrew Coen, project manager at the EA, said: "This work is necessary to remove the large quantities of gravel from the Boxing Day flood that's been deposited in the channel.

"This clearance work will return the channel back to the condition it was in before the floods and ensure the standard of flood protection in Hebden Bridge will be maintained."

Last week, the EA demolished a collapsed section of the former Whitesands Travel building in Mytholmroyd.

Once the building was demolished, it became evident that there was risk of further scour to the channel wall underneath the building.

Sandbags have been put in place to prevent any further damage until a more permanent solution is developed.

Teams are also at Luddenden Foot removing gravel and debris from around the canal aqueduct over the river.

(LM/MH)