A community-led campaign has been launched to help replace the bridge over the River Colne near Upper Mills in Slaithwaite, after the structure was destroyed during severe storms in 2024.

The bridge, which connected Manchester Road to the centre of Slaithwaite, was knocked down when a large fallen tree and resulting debris damaged the structure during high river levels.

Since then, the route has remained unusable, affecting residents, visitors and local businesses.

Although Kirklees Council does not own the bridge and therefore cannot directly fund its replacement, the council has committed to working with the community and local landowners to explore options for restoring this important local link.

The first stage of the project is to commission a specialist design and feasibility study, complete with detailed costings for a replacement bridge.

To make this happen, the Slaithwaite Building Connections Community Group is seeking to raise £16,956 through a crowdfunding campaign hosted on Spacehive.

If sufficient public support is demonstrated, Kirklees Council has pledged up to £5,000 towards this crucial first step.

The group is calling on residents, businesses, former residents and supporters of the village to contribute and help secure the future of the crossing.

Local resident Dan Wintercross, spokesperson for the Slaithwaite Building Connections Community Group, said: “This bridge was much more than a way of crossing the river.

“It connected people to the village centre, local businesses, community activities and our shared heritage. Its loss has been felt by many people.

“We now have an opportunity to come together as a community and take the first step towards restoring this important asset.

“Every donation, no matter how small, will help demonstrate the strength of local support and move the project forward.”

The campaign highlights three key benefits of restoring the bridge:

• Reconnecting the village and improving accessibility;
• Enabling active-travel by re-establishing a traffic-free, sustainable route to the canal side and village centre;
• Protecting an important part of Slaithwaite’s local heritage;
• Supporting local businesses by improving access to the village centre.

The group hopes the campaign will attract widespread community backing and provide the evidence needed to unlock further support for the project.

Organisers will be handing out flyers along the canal and in the village at weekends in July to promote the campaign.

Residents can find out more, make a donation and share the campaign by visiting: www.spacehive.com/replacing-slaithwaites-bridge.