HOME-owners can get free energy advice at a special event next month.

The Todmorden Energy Event, at Central Methodist Church, Bramsche Square, on Thursday March 1 will offer energy saving tips, fire safety advice and health checks.

Various organisations including the Green Doctor team, Calderdale Council, fire service, police and Age UK will be on hand at the drop-in event from 11am until 2pm. Call 0113 2380601 for details.

CALDERDALE Council remains on course to avoid any increase in council tax bills this year.

But several hundred jobs are likely to go as the council continues its quest to save £55m over the next three years.

Parking charges are expected to rise by 10p an hour in 2014.

There have been more than 200 formal responses to the draft spending plan, which is due for approval at the budget council meeting on February 27. Council leader Janet Battye said: “We have reduced the amount of savings required in each year by £100,000.”

news that houses on the Orchan Road, Lineholme Avenue and Glen Avenue estate, owned by Pennine Housing, are to have an upgraded heating system installed between April this year and March 2013 has been welcomed.

Mrs Olwen Jennings, who is Liberal Democrat candidate for Todmorden ward in the May elections, said: “Many residents have complained to me about the very poor heating systems in many of these houses. I’m pleased Pennine Housing recognised that they need to take action to put modern heating in these properties.”

Mrs Jennings urged Pennine Housing to ensure the work is carried out before next winter.

a COMMUNITY fire safety chief has welcomed a new EU directive for safer cigarettes.

Coun Andrea McKenna, who chairs West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s community safety committee, said the impact could be tremendous.

“This is a wonderful step forward,” she said.

Another clinic is opening at the Todmorden Health Centre bringing more care closer to home for residents of the upper Calder Valley.

The monthly rheumatology clinic starts on Thursday, February 23, and will provide care for up to 12 patients at each session.

The clinic will be headed by Dr Cheryl Fernandes and will save travel time and costs for patients who would previously have had to travel to Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax.

To get an appointment at the centre, patients are advised to ask their GPs as appointments need to be booked well in advance.

A GRAPHIC designer has produced a range of contemporary greeting cards inspired by the upper Calder Valley landscape.

Paul Wood, of Paul Wood Design, has been a graphic designer and illustrator for 30 years but recently started selling a range of cards, many with a local connection.

His first design - a Christmas card featuring Stoodley Pike - was stocked in several outlets and proved so popular that it sold out.

Paul, of Todmorden, has now expanded his range to include contemporary images including another local icon - sheep.

“I just did this for fun and then it started to grow.

“I now have a range of cards, all locally printed too, featuring the adventures of a black sheep on the hills above Tod,” he said.

“They are proving very popular with retailers re-ordering and new cards constantly being designed.

“The landscape around here gives me inspiration for my designs.

“Hopefully I will be able to distribute my range more widely and maybe Stoodley Pike and the black sheep may conquer the world.”