BUSINESSES sent reeling by two floods in 18 days are to be offered help at a meeting in Hebden Bridge Town Hall.
The get-together, hosted by the town’s Business Association and involving Calderdale Council representatives and partner organisations, will take place in the new Waterfront Hall on Wednesday (July 18) between 6pm and 8pm.
It follows a visit by the Prince of Wales on Friday at which he sat down in the town hall to see how his charity Business in the Community could help traders stricken by the disaster - 119 businesses in Hebden Bridge were affected, according to figures released by Calderdale Council, along with 64 in Todmorden, 39 in Mytholmroyd and 10 in Walsden.
Coun Janet Battye, Liberal Democrat councillor for Calder Ward, said: “I think that it’s important that the council works closely with local shops and businesses to help rebuild the local economy of Hebden Bridge – the ‘funky town’ of little shops. The council’s tourism officer Katie Kinsella will also be there, along with other organisations who are involved in helping us to come through the impact of the floods.”
Calderdale Council has allocated £200,000 to to help businesses and £50,000 to add into the Community Foundation fund for local people. Liz Needleman, regional director of BITC, said: “We were pleased with the level of interest shown by business leaders in helping to support the local economy on an on-going basis. Together with Calderdale Council we will be following this up.”