Wellholme Park, Brighouse: Much-loved Yorkshire park reopened after three-year flooding alleviation work

A warm reception has greeted the re-working of a much-loved park to better defend properties against flooding while boosting wildlife – as scheme partners also have an eye on the heat.

The early weeks of the redesigned parts of Wellholme Park, in Brighouse, has largely had plenty of positive feedback about what it now offers, they say.

The park was closed for three years to allow the major work, park of Brighouse’s overall £31m flood alleviation scheme to take place.

Partners in the scheme, including the Environment Agency and Calderdale Council, are pleased with the response it has been getting since re-opening in late July, in time for the school holidays, and the benefits it is bringing.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, Coun Darren Commons, who is also a ward councillor, said it was drawing people in and the extra protection it offers could also be a draw for businesses.

“I think the park’s wonderful. It’s well patronised as you can see and we’ve had nothing really but good comments,” said Coun Commons.

“This is well worth its money and it has created something really good for the people of Brighouse.

“Hopefully it shows our commitment to the residents of Brighouse – and hopefully draw some future investment into Brighouse as well.”

Environment Agency senior adviser Paul Swales explained the benefits Wellholme Park now brings, both for protection, and promoting, Brighouse.

“The positive feedback we’ve been getting is that it is a wonderfully enhanced park for families and the community to enjoy, particularly seeing the flora and fauna that’s part of the park now.

“Lots of butterflies flying about – that enhanced biodiversity, the range of species of plants that we’ve got here.

“It’s just generally a nicer place to be, walking and cycling, as part of the Brighouse Flood Alleviation Scheme,” he said.

At the protective core of the project are two flood storage areas within the park, said Mr Swales.

“When full they can contain nearly 9,000 cubic metres of water, which is equivalent to 24 full-sized swimming pools,” he said.

“They will fill up, and slowly release water back into Clifton Beck and the River Calder once river levels have dropped.

“The scheme better protects 414 properties, 65 of which are residential, 359 are non-residential, which includes a lot of businesses.”

Coun Commons said there was one issue of concern in this dry summer and he hoped visitors would be alert to it.

“On top of all the really good comments we’ve had, there has been one or two incidents of children lighting fires, which obviously in this weather we don’t want,” he said.

“It’s very dry at the moment. After we’ve spent all that money we don’t want it ruining.

“So, if anybody does see anything, if you could report it to the police, that would be very helpful.