Railway electrification campaign to continue. Cllr Jane Scullion is "sad, disappointed and angry" at the Government's failure to include electrification of the Calder Valley Line in the Integrated Rail Plan. Read report

No Carols in the Square this Christmas Eve. Churches Together in Hebden Royd have told the HebWeb that veryone is very welcome at carol services in the churches in Hebden Royd and the surrounding area.

Bookshop Heroes 2021 announced by the The Bookseller magazine, include Kate Claughan, owner of Hebden Bridge's The Book Case. Read article

Concern over fluoridation of our water See Hebweb forum thread

Storm Arwen bought snow to Hebden Bridge and left hundreds of homes, especially in the hilltop villages, without power and water. Chapter 17 and Marco's in Hebden Bridge and St Michaels in Mytholmroyd are among the many offering refreshments to those without power.

Recent power cuts – building resilience. See HebWeb discussion

Land Trust consultation Calder Valley Community Land Trust have revised their design for a development of 20 homes for affordable rents at High Street, Hebden Bridge. More info - and have your say. 27 Nov 2021

'Bowing to Tradition the Unexpected Sides of Japanese Society' was the subject of the talk given by Jim Holmes to a recent meeting the University of the 3rd Age. Read report 29 Nov

Rally and March in Todmorden to End Male Violence Against Women took place on Saturday 27 November, Meet at 4 pm at Pollination Street: women only More info

Grant boost for local climate action Exciting new projects, including Hour Car and Hope Baptist Church, which cut carbon emissions can now get off the ground, after eight Calderdale community groups were awarded funding during COP26. Read more

Green Groups hold COP26 Climate Protests throughout Calderdale including Green New Deal, Friends of the Earth and Extinction Rebellion highlighted the urgent need for much stronger local, UK and international action to tackle the climate crisis. Read more 8 Nov 21

Reclaim the Streets march from the railway station to the square in Hebden Bridge on Fri, 29 October. Click image to enlarge. Photo thanks to Jill Robinson.

COP26 - local actions Can't make it to Glasgow for COP 26? – you can still join in and take part! There are several local family friendly events and actions to get involved in during the Glasgow Climate Summit. More info

Small Ads Message received today: "We were overwhelmed with responses!" See Small Ads page

Energy Crisis leads to Citizen Advice Service in Hebden Bridge - funded by Hebden Royd Town Council. It will launch in Hebden Bridge on Wednesday 3 November in addition to the Thursday drop-in sessions at Mytholmroyd Community Centre. Read more 25 Oct

Small Ads "I have now found someone. Hebweb worked really well for me - so much interest." See Small Ads page

Linden Mill Planning Application Passed - see HebWeb Forum comment

Former Tory candidate for Calder Valley now Foreign Secretary. Liz Truss lost to Labour's Christine McCafferty in May 2005 but according to this Daily Mail report, had local Tories known of her affair with MP Mark Field, she would never have been selected. 15 Sept

Mytholmroyd Station Partnership - plaque unveiled the blue plaque for the Railway Heritage Trust Award was unveiled at the beginning of this month, after being delayed by Covid. Read more and see photos 14 Sept

Calderdale joins anti-racism movement Calderdale Council is one of nearly 500 organisations to join the Root Out Racism movement being launched to emphasise commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and the regional anti-racism movement. Read more

Planning Watch - objections to plans for new houses at Palace House Road should be received by 18 August.

Walking around Tod - "The industrial past blends with nature, the community runs on kindness and it's home to England's highest beach" See Guardian article 1 Aug

£1million Climate Emergency Fund Local community groups, charities and schools can now apply for funding from Calderdale's £1million Climate Emergency Fund, to support projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the borough. Read more 30 July 2021

Small Ads Message received. "Lots of response, as usual from Hebweb, and found a great tenant... many thanks, keep up the good work!!"

Message received to say thanks: "Brill. Where would our town be without Hebweb!"

Small Ads successes: "We have been successful at finding accommodation through Hebweb" and "Successful sale to someone who will enjoy using the van. Excellent result from Hebweb."

Heptonstall: "The beautiful medieval village an hour's drive from Manchester with no cars on the cobbled streets" - see article in Manchester Evening News 28 June 2021

Mytholmroyd plans for an enhanced library and community hub: An exciting new project is fast gaining support in Mytholmroyd. Since hearing the news that the library was scheduled to close, action has been taken to see if the original building can be transformed to provide both a library and community hub. Read more

Volunteers needed to help look after 112,000 new trees: The National Trust is appealing for volunteers to help look after a special area of moorland, sitting above Gorpley Reservoir, which is owned by Yorkshire Water, and has undergone a major transformation, with 112,000 new trees planted. Read more

Coiners' story set to be BBC Drama, based upon local author Benjamin Myers' book, The Gallows Pole. UK filmmaker Shane Meadows is to make the drama with UK-Irish producers Element Pictures. Read full article in Screen Daily

Small Ads: Message received: "Delighted by the response and now happily accommodated."

Hebden Bridge Flood Alleviation Scheme The Environment Agency is working with Calderdale Council to design and build a Flood Alleviation Scheme for Hebden Bridge. Read more 12 Dec

Covid latest figures: 21 cases (94 on 23 Oct) were recorded in Hebden Bridge (227 per 100k), 25 cases (63 on 25 Oct) in Mytholmroyd (293 per 100k) and 26 cases (138 on 16 Oct) in Tod (155 per 100k) for the week to 7 Dec. Read more 12 Dec

Light Up The Valley came to Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and Heptonstall over the weekend, 10-12 Dec. Fun for all the family, which appealed to both children and the young at heart!  Read more

Snowfall following Storm Arwen. Click photo to enlarge. Photo with thanks to Mike Shillabeer

There are 92 episodes to browse, all still on the HebWeb. And a book! They give a captivating offbeat view of our town and its goings-on from the mind of story-teller and writer, George Murphy. Series 1 first appeared here on the HebWeb in 2019. It tracked a politically charged and polarising year in the Upper Valley in the lead up to Brexit. Little did we know what was to follow.

Choir seeks new Musical Director and Apprentice. A mixed, non-auditioned, choir from Burnley who meet weekly, are often seen singing around Hebden Bridge and the Upper Valley. Read more 25 Nov

85.2% vaccinated in Hebden Bridge with first dose, aged 12 and over, compared with 80.4% for the rest of Calderdale and 88.3% nationally, of those aged 12 and over. More vaccination numbers. 23 Nov

Free parking on Saturdays in December at the Garden Street car park.

Erringden: Vacancy for Councillor by co-option. More info 23 Nov 2021

Hepton Singers return for concert in Heptonstall on the evening of Saturday 4th December for their usual pre-Christmas concert, for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic forced the choir to cancel their normal activities. Read more

Small Ads messages received: "Had an amazing response to our House to Let ad!" "HebWeb ads magic at it again! Please can you take the VW Beetle ad down." "Please take this ad down as we have been indundated, and now have the perfect person"

New manager for the Picture House After 9 years of managing Hebden Bridge Picture House, Rebekah Fozard will be leaving her role as Manager this November. Her successor, Pete Berrisford, arrives at Hebden Bridge Picture House as an experienced Cinema Manager from Cumbria. Read more 12 Nov

Twin Town St Pol's British Unknown Soldier The British Unknown Soldier lying beneath Marble Arch was transported there from St Pol-en-Ternoise in November 1920. Postponed from 2020, on Sat 6 Nov, the centenary of this event was commemorated in St Pol. More info and photos

Calderdale's banner at COP26, Glasgow

Pennine Finch endangered or Twite is on the brink of extinction. Burning of the moors is condemned in the report into a bird that once thrived around here. See Guardian article 6 Nov

It Takes A Flood… ITV programme shown on Tuesday evening (2 Nov) features Hebden Bridge, our community Town Hall and Khalsa Aid, all towards the end of the programme. Watch now

Sheep grazing and free organic fruit coming to High Hirst Woodmeadow! This land between Dodnaze and Sandy Gate, managed by the Town Council, is being made into a woodmeadow with community orchard, wildflower meadow and hedging. Read more 3 Nov

How polluted are our local rivers? After Craig Whittaker voted against law to restrict sewage in rivers, see details of the hundreds of local sewage discharges made into our waterways on this website 25 Oct

Community Association seeks Treasurer to join the Board of the charity that owns and runs Hebden Bridge Town Hall. The Association has told the HebWeb that it is at an exciting stage and this is great time to join.  Read more 15 Oct

COVID: Schools advised to introduce further health measures With rates of COVID-19 in Calderdale currently higher than they've ever been, schools in Calderdale are being advised to consider additional measures. Slowing the spread will help ease the severe pressures on health and social care services. Read more 13 Oct

Car park charges extended to 8pm and bank holidays in Hebden Bridge, starting soon. Parking tariffs to remain the same. 29 Sept 2021

Citizens Advice Hebden Royd Town Council-funded advice drop-in session for HX7 residents at Mytholmroyd Community Centre on Thursday mornings between 10am and 1pm. Advice also given by phone on 0808 278 7879.

Former Mayor praises health workers In this article, Nader Fekri, former Mayor of Hebden Royd and Calderdale, explains why he's supporting the Fair Pay For Nursing campaign after meeting RCN members at a recent rally, and commends the great support health workers gave his father who has died from Covid. Read article 13 Sept.

History Talks Details of the Hebden Bridge Local History Society lectures for 2021-2022 are now on the HebWeb "What's on" section

HebWeb Forum - current discussion includes local healthcare provision, the high Covid rate, recycling collections and more

Jude Walker completes 200 mile walk to Downing Street by handing in a letter to the Prime Minister calling for charges on carbon emissions. See this YouTube video and sign petition  15 Aug

HebWeb Discussion latest - Recycling mess, Acre Mill, obituaries and seeking like minded people. See HebWeb Forum 1 Aug

Yorkshire Water halts grouse shooting on its moorland above Hebden Bridge, and is seeking a partnership with a conservation agency or a sustainable farming operation for the future management of Baitings, Turley Holes and Higher House Moor. See Yorkshire Post article 30 July 2021

CROWS - repairing and improving our local footpaths

Volunteers from CROWS - our local Community Rights of Way Service  - continue to improve and repair footpaths in our area and the rest of the Upper Valley. See video and read about some of their recent work 27 July 2021

Climate change: Boy, 11, starts 200-mile walk Jude Walker of Hebden Bridge has begun a 200-mile walk to Westminster to raise awareness of climate change. Jude said he wanted to lobby ministers about the need for a carbon tax. Read BBC News report. 25 July 2021

Disability Groups call for continued mask wearing Local disability groups have written to Tracey Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, and Tim Swift and Jane Scullion, Leader and Deputy Leader of Calderdale Council to encourage continued mask wearing and social distancing, and to improve ventilation on public transport. Read more

Small Ads: message: "Could you take down my ad? I had an overwhelming response. Hebweb is fantastic! Thank you."

A multimillion-pound 'Growing Resilience' project to reduce flood risk. Hundreds of hectares of landscape restored, and thousands of trees planted as part of an ambitious environmental project to reduce flood risk. Read more.

Todmorden and UFOs: with the impending release of a Pentagon report on UFOs, Todmorden is attracting national interest. The Guardian today says the town has been the site of a number of unexplained events and sightings – "earning itself a reputation as Britain's answer to Roswell". See Guardian article.

Small Ads response received: "I have found a tenant. Many thanks for this fantastic service."

New technology to help monitor flood risk Camera technology is being installed along watercourses in the Calder Valley to help monitor drainage and assess flood risk. Read more (21 April)

Small Ads: Message received 20 April - "We have now found a home.  Thank you for a fantastic service."

Snowy Canal at Hebden Bridge, February 2021, with thanks to photographer, Andrew Smith. Click image to enlarge. More photos from Andrew Smith and others. (12 Feb)

Misty Morning, with thanks to photographer, Andrew Smith. Click image to enlarge. (12 Jan)

Handmade Parade: We are Here - a collaborative film made by over 1400 participants, from the UK and further afield. A story of hope and healing for 2020, brought to life by handmade artwork from all over the world. See video - updated 2 Dec

HebWeb Small Ads - received today: Please take this ad down as we have been indundated, and now have the perfect person.

Free School Meals: Our MP for the Calder Valley, Craig Whittaker voted against funding free school meals over the school holidays until Easter 2021. More info

Flooded six times since 2000 - there have now been six major floods, and many more smaller ones in the past 20 years. Links to HebWeb reports of previous floods.

Hidden in the valleys around Hebden Bridge

Magical scenes light up Town Hall - with colourful animations featuring magical scenes including snowy rooftops, a sparkling Christmas tree and a glimpse of the main man himself - Santa and his reindeer. Come and see after sunset until 19 Dec. More info

Progress continues at High Hirst Woodmeadow On Saturday 1 May, a team of 20 volunteers helped with hedge planting on the Town Council's High Hirst Woodmeadow site. A total of over 900 varieties of hedging were planted, including crab apple, rowan, rosehip and blackthorn. Read more 12 May 2021

Crystal Wilde: Finding peace in hippie Hebden Bridge: "Hippies, hikers, kooky cafes, drugs and lesbians: my home town of Hebden Bridge is notorious for many reasons, some more surprising than others." See feature in The Independent

Small Ads response received: "Can you please remove my ad for the house at Tod as it's now been let, the response has been amazing"

"HebWeb is our 'go to resource' that allows us to stay up to speed with all things Hebden Bridge." - from message received this week.

Snow covered Hebden Bridge and the Calder Valley early Sunday morning (11th). Thanks to Jenny Slaughter for this photo of Stoodley Pike, taken from the opposite side of the valley, above Hebden Bridge. (11 April)

Pace Egg Play 2021 online - more information, links and photos.

Hebden Bridge woman swims in frozen lakes every day to help homeless. Professional artist Rachel Bull has swum in the icy waters around Hebden Bridge every day in January. Read report (1 Feb)

Brearley Fields flood overflow does its job Storm Christope last week turned Brearley Fields into a lake. The new measures will benefit birds, fish and other local wildlife, attract visitors to the area and provide educational opportunities. Read more

The Old Bridge and Wavy Steps
at 1.15pm Weds, 20 Jan

Storm Christoph hit the Calder Valley from 19-21 January. Once again, our area faced serious risk of further flooding, from heavy rain falling on already saturated ground, along with melting snow. The level of the river peaked Weds afternoon at 5:15pm at 1.94m and was down to 1.32m by 11pm. (updated 21 Jan)

Tree Felling on a Commercial Scale "Mr Henry (Lord Savile's brother) proudly told me over two decades ago that when the land was originally given to the Trust it was on the strict instruction that they would never cut a living tree." See forum discussion (16 Jan)

Cloud and snow mingle over Hebden Bridge. Thanks to photographers, Andrew Deas, and Sara Swindells for sending their photos to the HebWeb. Click on photos to enlarge. (15 Jan)

Small Ad house sale response: "offer received within a week of listing on HebWeb. Brilliant, thank you!"

HebWeb Small Ads positive feedback: 1. "Brilliant as ever. Thank you. Ads fulfilled". 2. "We've been inundated with enquiries from potential tenants."

HebWeb Small Ads. Message received about ad for 2 bed house: "I've had so many people message about this I can't keep up with replying."

HebWeb Small Ads - The HebWeb is brilliant. Found tutor within 3 days. The response was excellent as was the calibre of the candidates.

HebWeb coverage of the 2019 General Election is at caldervalley.org.uk along with info on general elections back to 1997.

Yorkshire Post on Hebden Bridge: "A Yorkshire town with an independent streak… Hebden is a striking town in an even more striking location."

Small Ads - "We filled the vacancy thanks to the Hebweb, brilliant service"

Hebden Bridge on Woman’s Hour (from around 28 mins in) - our area is praised for being friendly to lesbians the liberal minded, creatives and progressives, for its co-operatives, hippies and Sylvia Plath’s grave. And they plan to do a Woman’s Hour from Hebden Bridge. (27 Nov)

"Britain at its best: Hebden Bridge where Ed Sheeran was born is a true northern star,” declares Mail Online article. Apparently, our town is  'just right side of gentrified’. Read article

More tree cover still needed in Hebden Bridge, say Friends of the Earth. The organisation claims trees can act as effective flood defences, helping to reduce peak water levels by as much as a quarter. See ITV report.

BBC1 Countryfile at Hardcastle Crags "We're in West Yorkshire and this is one of its true hidden gems." And featuring the work of Slow the Flow Calderdale. (17 June)

Banking in Hebden Bridge: 'The only banks left in Hebden Bridge are grass ones down by the river'. See this weekend's article on the bankless town of Hebden Bridge in This is Money

The National Geographic’s Cool List for 2019 has West Yorkshire at number 7. The Calder Valley is highlighted - "with hippyish Hebden Bridge as its epicentre" - as a "burgeoning hub for restaurants and independent shops." )

Small Ads: "Hebweb scores again! I have sold my electric lawnmower today"

HebWeb Small Ads We've been overwhelmed with the response and quality of applicants! Thanks so much!

Small Ads - 3 two bed houses to rent, all announced the same day, on the HebWeb Smalls Ads page

Small Ads message - "Once again, great success by placing my house to rent on HebWeb!"

Huffington Post on Hebden Bridge: "You will find a town that was almost abandoned, but brought back to life by hippies, artists and lesbians looking for a place to make a life." Written by Sean Pert, who continues: "The town doesn't just tolerate its LGBT+ community, it values and embraces us." Read more

No banks. No petrol. Lloyds Bank was the last bank left in Hebden Bridge. It closed this month. Shepherds was the last petrol garage still open in Hebden Bridge. It stopped selling petrol this month.

Hebden Bridge artist Kate Lycett featured in Yorkshire Post feature

Hebden Bridge: How a thriving town lost its last bank: This Guardian article reports that, "Residents feel angry and let down as Lloyds departs, but one man (David Fletcher) has a plan to fill the gap." Only a few years ago, Hebden Bridge had five full time banks. The last one, Lloyds, closed last week. Read article (26 Jan)

Hebden Bridge is Cool - Hebden Bridge has made National Geographic's Cool list. "The Calder Valley - with hippyish Hebden Bridge as its epicentre - is a burgeoning hub for restaurants and independent shops." See article.

Fox and Goose one of top 50 pubs according to The Guardian

Hebden Bridge features in The Spectator "The Yorkshire town that’s gone from dirty old buildings to New Age nirvana" by William Cook.

Swimming pool latest. It's still going ahead but, because of the 2015 Flood, not yet. And not in Hebden Bridge. Read the latest statement from the Swimming Pool Association, and follow the links for how the HebWeb has covered this controversial issue over many years. More

Small Ads: "Please can you remove small ad. I had a response within an hour of the ad going live and the first viewer took the house. I had 8 requests to view in 24 hours. Brilliant!"

Small Ads message - "Just to say that my cottage has now been let. Thanks once again to HebWeb!"

Less than an hour from Hebden Bridge: try these halls, houses and galleries which many may not have heard about. Yet they are just on our doorstep. If you can't find anything to do locally (see What's On), have a look at this new HebWeb Feature.

Hebden Bridge, the UK's second city, BBC article by Evan Davis. "Hebden Bridge is an inverted city with a greenbelt centre and suburbs called Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool." Read the article

Small Ads: "House successfully rented through Hebweb. Fantastic posting wall!"

Selling my house on HebWeb was "extremely successful - I hope to complete on the sale in 2 weeks time, and I think I could have sold it a few times over."

Smll Ads: "I had so many wonderful responses to my ad for someone to help me re-organize my house post-flood, I wanted to employ everyone! Thank you." - Susan

Small Ads - I just wanted to let you know that through my small ad on your site I found my ideal new home, meeting all my requirements. Thank you very much for such a great resource

Small Ads: "Ad posted Monday, lease to be signed Saturday and tenant moving in Sunday. Thanks HebWeb."

"Unbelievable result Hebweb. So many enquiries in response to the small ad on your site and now have lovely new tenants. What a success - Thank you Hebweb."

HebWeb also available on the slightly shorter hebdenbridge.uk as well as hebdenbridge.co.uk

Small Ads - "We placed a job ad on the Hebweb recently, intending to keep it there for 2 weeks, but we had to take it down after 3 days due to the huge response generated"

Britain's favourite market town? Hebden Bridge has been shortlisted in the 'Britain's favourite market town' category in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2013. Read more

Guardian Northerner: Hebden Bridge the UK's coolest place? The Yorkshire Paradise has won its fourth accolade in a decade. Born, brought up and living here, Rachel Pickering is loyal, but has one or two cautionary thoughts.

Small Ads - "I am very pleased to say the response was terrific and both properties are now let." (Less than a week)

Small ads: "We've successfully rented our house. Thanks for an excellent service - I'll heartily recommend Hebweb, as our house was previously listed through an estate agent who didn't manage to get us a tenant in 3 months - through Hebweb we had 4 prospective tenants within a week."

Small Ads: We had a prospective buyer view it, she loves the house and has put in offer we've accepted. So, thank-you!

"In a world where style often triumphs over substance, Hebweb is reassuringly informative, reliable and clear. An invaluable community resource and public information forum reflecting the independent spirit of Hebden Bridge. Lesley at Elmet Farmhouse.

Small Ads: "Amazing but my house in Tod got rented out within 30 minutes after putting the house on Hebweb."

Small Ads success - "Hi there I have found lovely tenants for my house in less than 24 hours. Amazing!" Re house to let in Mytholmroyd.

Small Ads - "Choosing to advertise the house for rent on the Hebweb was incredibly effective. The perfect tenants were found within 48 hours"

From Steve Farrell, now living in Mysore, India: "As someone who lives abroad, the Hebweb site has always been critical for keeping in touch 'back home' in Hebden. I've just needed to re-advertise my home for rent, so where to turn to? The Hebweb, of course. The Ad was up within minutes and there were 10 enquiries within 24 hours. Superb!" See Small Ads.

'Greatest Town in Europe' - as well as being the 4th funkiest town in the world, Culture Trip gives 12 Reasons why Hebden Bridge 'is known as the greatest town in Europe'. Read article

Far more than a large home page, the HebWeb is now an essential local resource. It has been around for nearly 23 years, covering local news, events, opinions, tourist info, small ads, where to stay and much, much more. Updated every day. Read more and go deeper into the HebWeb.

Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire crowned best place in the UK - 'Machine learning' used millions of data points to discover top locations. Read more

From the archive: The Times listed the 30 coolest places to live in Britain. Number one was Hebden Bridge.

Let's move to Hebden Bridge From the Guardian. If the roots of its liberal and creative image are a mystery, its appeal is obvious. See also: HebWeb report from Sept 2005

HebWeb Small Ads message: "Please could you close the advert? We've been overwhelmed with the response and quality of applicants! Thanks so much!"

Hebden Bridge Station car park to expand: Calderdale Council is working with Network Rail, which owns the land to the east of the existing station car park to create 46 extra places. Read more.

Some years ago in the Guardian, Martin Wainwright wrote, "Witness current comments on the community website, the Hebweb, which is one of the best of its kind in the country. No, world." 25 Oct 2012

Guardian Northerner: What the UK can learn from Hebden Bridge? The BBC's Mind the Gap asks how London's success can be replicated elsewhere: Claire Donnelly argues that our small town could have the answer. Read more

"Many thanks Hebweb, the Small Ad asking for Volunteers to cook and help at Wadsworth Lunch Club has already had success. We now have someone coming to help cook. We'd still welcome a washer up, and occasional helpers please."