Electric vehicles deployed on Hebden Bridge Flood Alleviation Scheme

The Environment Agency and BAM Nuttall have introduced electric vehicles to carry out early flood defence work in Hebden Bridge and the wider Calder Valley, as part of the project’s ambition to cut carbon emissions.The Hebden Bridge Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS), led and developed by the Environment Agency, aims to improve flood protection for approximately 400 properties and is vital to improving the town’s flood defence.The range of electric vehicles being used include:Electric cars – for site visits throughout Hebden Bridge and the Calder ValleySmall electric vans – for engineers and supervisors to visit Hebden Bridge and other schemes within the Calder ValleyLarge electric vans – to transport people around site and minimise traffic within the townLarge electric pick-ups – to replace transit van pick-ups to transport materials and peopleEarly flood defence worksA key element of the early flood defence work in Hebden Bridge includes a revamp of the Vale Centre site on Stubbing Holme Road, which will be used as a construction site compound to store materials and machinery.Land adjacent to Trinity Street is currently being used to store materials and will continue into early 2022.The work also involves repairing the dilapidated wall at the Vale Centre and construction of a canal overflow weir. This work is due to start in winter 2021 and aims to reduce flooding on the canal front upstream of the aqueduct in Hebden Bridge by discharging excess water into the River Calder.A planning application will be submitted by the Environment Agency to Calderdale Council later this year, outlining the preferred location of the canal overflow weir – adjacent to the former Adult Learning Centre between Stubbing Holme Road and Hebble End.Further work to deliver the fluvial and surface water elements of the scheme are forecast to commence in summer 2022 until 2025.Other early work carried out by BAM Nuttall in preparation for the main Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) include ground investigations at a number of areas around Hebden Bridge, which assesses the suitability of the ground around the site for construction to take place; CCTV culvert surveys, which review and examine conditions inside a culvert using video monitoring systems to identify any issues; and minor in-channel works.