EVs 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 Valley, small electric vans for engineers and supervisors to visit Hebden Bridge and other schemes within the Calder Valley. They also include large electric vans – to transport people around site and minimise traffic within the town, and large electric pick-ups – to replace transit van pick-ups to transport materials and people.

Christian Merriman, Flood & Coastal Risk Management Advisor at the Environment Agency, said: "We’re already seeing the impacts of the climate emergency in the UK. The Environment Agency is committed to achieving net zero carbon by 2030. To achieve this, we will need to cut our carbon emissions by 45%.

"This is a huge and important challenge to help mitigate the effects of climate change. The use of electric vehicles at Hebden Bridge is just one of the measures we have implemented to help achieve our target.

"Our partnership with BAM Nuttall takes us one step closer to our goal and we will continue reducing our carbon emissions for wider projects."