13th May 2010

On 29 April 2010, the Mayor of Calderdale, Cllr. Arshad Mahmood, hosted the Halifax Civic Trust Annual Awards 2010 at Halifax Town Hall. Having presided over the Trust’s well-attended Annual General Meeting, at which all officers were re-elected, the Mayor presented the award for the restoration of Shibden Park. The plaque was received by Deborah Comyn-Platt, Shibden Estate Manager. John Shepherd, former Chief Executive of Action Halifax, then gave an illustrated lecture about his eight years of involvement with that organisation.

The name “Action Halifax” was adopted early in 2001, for a regeneration partnership formed the previous year, when a total of £13.75 million was awarded to Calderdale by Yorkshire Forward, to oversee the management and implementation of the Government’s S.R.B. Calderdale Council approached the partnership to manage a £7.7 million budget and run the E.U. Programme “Halifax: An Enterprise Town.” Further funds were later secured, and during its existence, Action Halifax successfully managed an investment programme worth over £70 million.

A large variety of valuable local projects had been supported, from the restoration of Garden Street Mill to the Elsie Whiteley Centre, from Social Inclusion projects to creating new opportunities for learning and skill development. Some of these projects have won notable awards, and it was regrettable this capable and much-valued Calderdale regeneration body was now no more. Mr Shepherd was thanked by John Hargreaves, Chairman of Halifax Civic Trust.