Public talk on new heritage strategy for Kirklees

More than 30 members and visitors attended Huddersfield Civic Society’s meeting to hear a talk about Kirklees Council’s new Heritage Strategy and the Tourism and Culture Strategies.

Deborah Marsland, Kirklees Council Museums and Galleries Manager, was ill on the day and could not attend so the Society was grateful to Carl Hutton, Kirklees Culture and Tourism Strategic Officer, for agreeing at short notice to cover both his and Deborah’s subject areas. 

Carl described the strategies and the way in which people across Kirklees have been involved in developing them, how they would link together and how these ought to enable future successful funding bids.

There then followed a lively question and answer session on matters including the contrast between the Kirklees Council resource expended on developing such strategies with an apparent lack of council resource in recent years maintaining the town’s existing built heritage, including various listed buildings the council itself owns. 

Some of the issues raised by audience member were outside Carl’s own area of knowledge and the Society hopes to be able to cover these in future discussion with Deborah Marsland. 

Attendees thanked Carl for agreeing to come and give the full presentation and to taking the many questions.

The meeting was held at Brian Jackson House on Wednesday, November 6.