THIRTEEN flood warnings were last night issued for Huddersfield rivers.
On Friday evening, The Environment Agency said that there were 46 areas at risk of flooding nationally – and 13 of them were in Huddersfield.
By Saturday morning the national figure had risen to 150.
The River Colne at Aspley and Bradley Mills had risen to 1.51 metres – it’s usual level is between 0.25m and 1.20m.
The river from Milnsbridge to Folly Hall put the Britannia Road Industrial Estate, Colne Business Park on George Street, Stoney Battery Road and Empress Works on St Thomas’ Road at risk of flooding.
And the river, which runs by the Galpharm Stadium and cinema, was also issued with a flood warning.
The Odeon cinema, Pizza Hut and the Rope Walk pub were all told to close last night.
The River Calder at Steanard Lane, Mirfield, had broken its banks at 8pm with up to six inches of surface water on the road.
A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said last night: "The rain is expected to die down on Saturday, but if it returns on Sunday as expected the flood warnings may cause problems, we hope not to the Olympics Relay Route."
Harden Moss sheepdog trials and galas in Golcar, Cumberworth, Marsh and Berry Brow were also called off.
The non-stop rain caused havoc with events – Harden Moss sheepdog trials were cancelled as 33mm of rain fell in Huddersfield in 36 hours.
Golcar Gala, Cumberworth Carnival, Marsh Gala and Berry Brow Carnival were also called off
Helen Jubb, of the Harden Moss trials, said: "The water was pouring down the fields and it was the only sensible decision to call the weekend trials off. It would not have been fair to try and carry on with the weather so bad."
TORRENTIAL rain has played havoc with weekend events in Huddersfield.
One of the wettest summers for years has seen more carnivals and galas cancelled.
Worried organisers of events including Harden Moss sheepdog trials have had to pull the plug because they fear fields used by heavy vehicles will be turned into quagmires.
Huddersfield saw 33mm of rain fall in just 36 hours up to yesterday afternoon – half the average monthly rainfall for June.
And with more rain forecast for today, the planned events have been cancelled.
The deluge has put paid to two days of the Harden Moss trials – previously halted only by the war and by foot and mouth – as well as galas in Golcar, Cumberworth, Marsh and Berry Brow.
Some have tried to move events indoors but major events have been cancelled.
What's On and Off
Harden Moss sheepdog trials – off
Golcar Gala – off
Cumberworth Gala – off
Marsh Gala – off this afternoon but some events may be switched to Paddock Youth Centre on Beech Street from 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Berry Brow Carnival – activities switched to Newsome Methodist Church this afternoon
Summer fair at Cherry Trees Respite Centre, Fieldway, Shepley – still on from 1.30pm to 4pm today
Holmfirth Arts Festival – Most events going ahead both today and tomorrow
Parkfest - still on tomorrow
Ravensknowle Gala – Off
Huddersfield Pennine Rotary Club Fair (Huddersfield town centre) – still on
The weekend cancellations come two weeks after the Honley Show had to be abandoned because the showground was a quagmire.
Salendine Nook weatherman Paul Stevens said: “The rain started early on Thursday and by yesterday afternoon we had 33m which is almost half what we would expect in a normal June.
“More is coming and sadly if we don’t have rain, we will have showers. I think we can safely forecast two inches of rain over the course of 48 hours.”
Officials at Harden Moss met yesterday afternoon to reluctantly call off the Saturday and Sunday events planned for the grounds above Holmfirth.
Some trials did take place yesterday but there was water pouring down the fields used for car parking and the decision to cancel was taken on safety grounds.
Chairwoman Christine Smith said: “The ground is completely waterlogged and we have never been forced to cancel because of the weather before.
“It’s such a shame as it takes a year to organise, but there is no way we can go ahead.’’
Shirley Hogg, organiser of Cumberworth Carnival, said they were reluctantly having to postpone the event as conditions were too windy to put up their marquee.
She said: “The other problem we’ve got is that the field is absolutely sodden so all the traffic will just churn up the field. It will be such a hassle and we'll get insurance claims left, right and centre.
“It’s very disappointing as we’re potentially a couple of grand out of pocket.
“We were hoping to recoup that from the event so we shall be reeling but we hope to re-schedule it for August.’’
Richard Jackson from Golcar Gala, said they were having to cancel for the first time in 24 years.
He said: “Unfortunately we've had to cancel because of the weather. We went up to our field in the morning and it's absolutely waterlogged so if we start putting vehicles on it would be awful.”
Carol Waters, of Berry Brow Carnival, said: “The field is too wet to get vehicles on so we have moved some of the activities, including the music and Punch & Judy, to Newsome South Methodist Church. It is such a shame.”
Plans for Marsh Gala also bit the dust but some of the attractions planned for Lumb Fields are now taking place at Paddock Youth Centre on Beech Street in Paddock.
Pillow fights, team games, and a cake hunt which should all have been held outdoors in Holmfirth on Sunday as part of the town's 11-day Arts Festival have been called off because of torrential rain. But festival director Jonathan Best said that today's (June 23) Festival Stage would go ahead in the Old Bridge Hotel car park.
“Our celebration of community talent will still go ahead because it is in a marquee,” he said. “The only reason we would rethink is if further rain caused any leaks to the marquee with a risk to equipment.”
Outlane Gold Club was today hoping the rain goes away – they’re hosting a top Open.
The Outlane Gents Open is scheduled to take place which will see 140 competitors tee-off for the annual event.
David Chapman, a club pro, said last night: “We’ve got surface water on the green.
“Like everybody else we’re hoping the rain starts to ease off“.”
A memorial garden dedicated to organ donors at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary was due to open yesterday.
However, the ceremony was cancelled due to wet weather. Ann Fergusson, mum of donor Chris Milenovic – who died as a result of an unprovoked attack – was due to open the garden.
A FLOOD alert has been issued for the river which flows through Brighouse town centre.
The Environment Agency listed the River Calder and its tributaries from Todmorden to Brighouse and towards Castleford as being at high risk of overflowing.
They said: “River levels are expected to rise and flood warnings may be issued.
“The Dewsbury Flood Relief Channel (further down the river) is expected to flood.
“This flood alert has been issued due to the forecast heavy and persistent rain.
“There is still some uncertainty as to the amount of rain but we are forecasting river levels to start rising.”
The river level at Brighouse Brookfoot was last night at 1.27 metres – and it had risen 11 inches in two hours. The river’s typical river is between 0.00 metres and 0.80 metres.
Nationally 11 areas were at risk of flooding – four of them in Huddersfield.
The River Colne was nearing its limit in four locations, at Aspley, Bradley Mills and Milnsbridge, while the River Calder at Mirfield was also listed as a flood warning.
A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said last night: “The rain is expected to die down on Saturday, but if it returns on Sunday as expected the flood warnings may cause problems, we hope not to the Olympics Relay Route.”
