HUDDERSFIELD CIVIC SOCIETY MEMBERS’ NEWS

Forthcoming Events Heritage Open Days in Kirklees The online version of this year’s Kirklees HODs brochure can now be viewed on https://tinyurl.com/KirkleesHOD2024 and the print version is now available from local libraries and information centres. As mentioned previously, this year’s HOD Festival runs from Friday, September 6 to Sunday, September 15 and promises to be an exceptional year to discover some of the lesser known and exciting aspects of our district. Dozens of churches are also taking part in Yorkshire Churches Day (https://www.yhct.org.uk/yorkshire-churches-day/) on Saturday, September 14. Sunday, September 22, at 2pm: A Walk Around Penistone Town Centre Marlene Marshall … Read more

Discover Huddersfield There’s nothing more enjoyable than a summer stroll and I’m sure the next couple of Discover Huddersfield walks will prove popular. On Thursday evening, August 8, University of Huddersfield archivist Eleanor McKenzie will lead a tour around the remarkably diverse campus looking at buildings spanning over 150 years and the stories behind them. Then, on Sunday, August 18, Deb Wyles will reveal some of the historic landmarks and history of Holmfirth in a circular walk around the centre. Book a place on the walks via Eventbrite, (http://bit.ly/DiscoverHuddersfield), from 14 days before each walk. Walks cost £4.50 per person … Read more

All is quiet on the Kirklees front. Perhaps, as the editor of Huddersfield Hub recently said: “The council has been in neutral for the last few weeks pending the General Election.” We know officers are working hard to deliver the first phase of the Cultural Heart and remain under pressure to fulfil expectations regarding conservation and enforcement issues due to various constraints. However, there are a number of specific opportunities for HCS to make positive contributions in forthcoming meetings with the council and these and more is summarised in my following update. Forthcoming Events Last Call: Evening Visit to Wakefield … Read more

I hope that for those who attended our last couple of events – the Transpennine Rail Upgrade and St George’s Quarter presentations – will have appreciated our efforts in promoting and supporting some tremendous investment and improvement initiatives.  I hope this update will continue to both promote and inform all our members and friends of why our society is worthy of your support. Future Events Evening Visit to Wakefield, Wednesday, July 17, 2024 Places are booking fast so ensure you let us know if you’d like to attend as soon as possible. We meet outside Wakefield Westgate Railway Station at … Read more

It’s always a quiet period regarding news concerning Kirklees Council around the time of the local elections but there is still plenty of information to share this month. Future Events: St George’s Quarter – A Jewel in Huddersfield’s Crown: Presentation by Susan Meadwell, Project Director, Thursday, May 23, 7pm at New North Road, Baptist Church A rare opportunity for you to hear the aspirations of Hd1 Developments, owners of SGQ, the St Georges Quarter former railway warehouse in Huddersfield’s town centre. Susan Meadwell, Project Director for SGQ, will comment on the array of development designs explored, describe the capital works … Read more

HCS AGM and Design Award Presentations, Tuesday, March 26, 2024 It was heartening to see so many attend our AGM and Design Award presentations just over a week ago. For those unable to attend the evening details of the winning developments can be found on the HCS website News and Design Awards pages with the overall winner the new A&E unit at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (pictured). Our thanks to the Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Cahal Burke, for presenting the awards and to architects Adrian Pitts and Jonathan Lovett whose presentations on What is ‘Good’ Design were worthy of a separate … Read more

As promised, here’s an update on some other activities. Future Events As you may know, we had to cancel the Transpennine Route Upgrade presentation by Paul Sumner on February 8, 2024 because of snow. Those who had previously booked do NOT need to rebook – a place has already been reserved for you for the new date of 7pm on Thursday, April 25 at New North Road Baptist Church. Those who were unable to attend now have the chance to book for the revised date by going to http://bit.ly/48kZMKZ. Discover Huddersfield Details of the 2024 walks’ programme can now be found by going to  https://discoverhuddersfield.uk Programme leaflets should … Read more

Things are warming up – not only the weather (hopefully) but a number of events and initiatives. Here’s a short summary with more to be found on our recently re-launched web site and social media pages:  (https://www.huddersfieldcivicsociety.org.uk), Facebook pages (https://www.facebook.com/HuddersfieldCivicSociety/) and Instagram (huddersfieldcivicsociety). February Events Last call for booking a place at the Transpennine Route Upgrade presentation by Paul Sumner, Senior Sponsor, Network Rail, Thursday, February 8, 2024, 7pm at New North Parade Baptist Church. To book your place please go to http://bit.ly/48kZMKZ. Thursday, February 29, 7pm; Head of Steam, St George’s Square HCS Members’ Open Evening. I hope you … Read more

As 2024 begins we announce the launch of a fully revised website and increased exposure through Facebook and Instagram, meetings with key Kirklees officers and a number of updates since the last update. February Events First of all, two dates for your diary: Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 7pm. New North Parade Baptist Church:  Paul Sumner, Senior Sponsor, Transpennine Route Upgrade, Network Rail. A chance to hear about the biggest engineering project to influence the future of Huddersfield since the building of the M62. By splitting routes into fast and slow lines, creating greater capacity and increased speeds, plus electrification and more capacity to … Read more

My last update before the Christmas break as we see the year out with increasing financial difficulties faced by Kirklees Council but, equally, some positive news and a hint at some of our planned events for early in 2024. Open Market and Penistone Line to receive funding from Government Levelling Up programme. It was recently announced that Kirklees has been awarded £16.6m from the government’s Levelling Up fund to restore and convert Huddersfield Open Market into a food hall and provision for around 60 market stalls on the open area adjacent to Tesco. The Penistone railway line will also receive … Read more

Nominations invited for Huddersfield Civic Society Design Awards 2023 Huddersfield Civic Society is pleased to announce the re-instatement of its annual Design Awards. Last held in 2020, the Covid pandemic and resulting slowdown of local development projects resulted in the awards being put on hold. Now we feel it’s time to revive these prestigious awards but we can only succeed if we have the help of HCS members and the general public identifying projects that meet the criteria of good design as outlined below.    Established in 2012, these prestigious awards have been presented to the very best developments within Huddersfield … Read more

In my last update I mentioned a meeting held with several other local organisations who shared similar concerns regarding the proposal to amalgamate the town’s museum and art gallery under one roof, thereby significantly reducing exhibition space from that indicated in the approved Cultural Heart proposals and in relation to lack of investment/ maintenance as well as the future of Tolson Museum.