Huddersfield Civic Society Members’ Update December 2022
Huddersfield Civic Society’s comments on the proposed Kirklees Cultural Heart plans were reported in the media
Tuesday, January 24, 2023, 7.30pm to 9pm. A Zoom event organised by Cycle Kirklees to fill the gap left by a speaker unable to reach our joint Active Travel event last month.
Sustrans (https://www.sustrans.org.uk/) has been active in Kirklees for a couple of decades. You may not know it but, if you have walked along local canal towpaths or greenways, you’ve probably already benefited from its work locally. Its speaker was unable to attend the November 5 HCS/Cycle Kirklees event but we are fortunate that Chas Ball, HCS member and Chair of Cycle Kirklees, has arranged an extended version of that intended talk. Please note that the topics covered range across the whole of Kirklees.
This online event is free and can be booked now on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/improving-local-walking-cycling-networks-the-sustrans-contribution-tickets-483163313477
Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 7pm to 8.30pm. HCS/University of Huddersfield Annual Joint Lecture: Making Housing Fit for a ‘Net Zero’ Future.
Our popular 2023 annual joint lecture will involve a panel of specialists addressing how to make existing housing fit for a net zero future. You may have heard much about designing new houses that are energy efficient but this event will instead address how best to retrofit our existing housing, whether you are an individual homeowner or manage a wide portfolio of properties in the case of a social landlord. What can be done, what savings can be made and how can people be persuaded to do it when many currently face other pressures?
Further information and booking details will follow in late January.
Town Centre Cultural Heart
As mentioned in my last update, the HCS Committee Executive has now submitted a formal response to the application which can be found on the HCS website in the News and Planning pages. We are also grateful to our web manager, Andy Hirst, for ensuring our comments were also featured in the Examiner and Huddersfield Hub and Robert Taylor, HCS Planning Officer, for putting a link on the Huddersfield Town Centre Regeneration Group Facebook page.
As previously mentioned, although we welcome the overall proposals there are several key concerns. To this end we are fortunate to have organised a meeting with David Shepherd, Kirklees Council’s Strategic Director for Growth and Regeneration. We are grateful to David for giving us a chance to air our concerns. Whatever the outcome, it does demonstrate the value and recognition of the Civic Society in being able to hold direct and, hopefully, fruitful discussions with principal Kirklees officers.
The George Hotel
Similar to the above, a response has been submitted following a recent consultation on plans for the George Hotel: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/huddersfield-blueprint/george-hotel.aspx.
While we were pleased to hear that careful consideration was being given to the historic fabric of the building, following the talk by specialist conservation architect, Helen Walker at our joint event with Huddersfield Local History Society in September and that the Radisson hotel group plan to extend and refurbish the building, we were slightly bemused by the consultation which lacked specific detail regarding the internal layout and how extensions would complement the fine Italianate detailing of this Grade 2* listed building.
Hopefully, contacts through our corporate members will enable Huddersfield Society of Architects to take a close interest in the proposals once fuller information has been prepared.
Shopfronts
Previous updates have articulated HCS frustration at the slow progress being made to improve shop fronts, particularly along a section of John William Street and Cross Church Street, despite the offer of very generous grant support to owners/tenants by the council.
Following liaison with Kirklees’ Nigel Hunston, Team Leader (Town Centre Conservation and Design), we are delighted that applications 2022/93964 and 2022/93895 have very recently been submitted for the reinstatement, refurbishment and repair of six shops and signage at 17-333A John William Street.
Having had a quick look at the submitted proposals (I was only made aware of them today) the improvements appear to be of a very high standard.
HCS has, for over 20 years, lamented the failure to take action against illegal work on shop fronts within the town and the negative perception inappropriate frontages has on visitors.
Perhaps, at last, we will see key frontages reinstated and these applications will act as a stimulus for further improvements.
Transport Proposals
Members may have read the news that more than 30 transport schemes across West Yorkshire have been placed on hold as a result of inflation. Schemes include main road, city connect improvements and Huddersfield Station Gateway improvements, the latter reported in my last update. While we welcome the abandonment of the A629 Blacker Road junction improvements which would have seen the felling of a high numbers of mature trees within Edgerton Conservation Area, we are equally concerned that strategic improvements relating to the railway station and active travel schemes have been paused after so much effort, time and money has been spent in driving these initiatives forward.
Looking forward to 2023
2023 could prove a transitional year for Huddersfield town centre. No doubt the council will be keen to approve the Cultural Heart proposals and complete contracts with Radisson Hotels and progress work on Estate Buildings, New Street and other improvements.
In the short term, Kirklees Council has just announced that the main Huddersfield town library closes on December 31 and will operate from the Customer Service Centre on Market Street while the Local Studies library and Kirklees Transcription Service will be temporarily relocating to premises on Victoria Lane and are due to open in February until the proposed new Cultural Heart library opens in Spring 2026.
The HCS Executive Committee will continue to work on your behalf and pursue key issues that have been raised over the last 12 months, such as our concern over enforcement, unprotected listed buildings, poor shopfronts, active travel, biodiversity etc. We will also continue to organise a range of stimulating talks and events as well as fully participating in groups such as Discover Huddersfield and Heritage Open Days.
I know I’ve mentioned this previously but we do need additional help from any members willing to allocate a few hours each month to help with our very varied activities. There are many interesting websites and media articles that praise, bemoan or criticise what’s going on within our town but few organisations have the ability to constructively and actively influence decisions and initiatives as well as promote the heritage, culture and diversity of Huddersfield.
I wish you all an enjoyable Christmas and hope to see you in 2023.
Best Wishes
David Wyles
HCS Chairman