Several digital display screens in Huddersfield town centre
Application 2022/93077 refused on January 31, 2023
Application 2022/93083 refused on February 1, 2023
Application 2022/93082 refused on February 3, 2023
Application 2022/93086 refused on February 9, 2023
Application 2022/93074 refused on February 13, 2023
Several digital display screens in Huddersfield town centre
Huddersfield Civic Society is vehemently opposed to planning applications to site digital display screens in several Huddersfield town centre locations.
The six applications have all been made by British Telecom.
In their objection HCS states: “These display units are not only contrary to the aim of protecting and improving Huddersfield town centre Conservation Area, but add unnecessary clutter to the street scene.
“At a time when improvements are being made to improve hard landscaping with appropriate materials, as has taken place along Dundas Street, Half Moon Street, St George’s Street etc and plans are underway in connection with the town centre blueprint, such units would be both unsightly and inappropriate.
“Huddersfield Town Centre Conservation Area is already classed as at risk by Historic England which describes the area as ‘very bad’ and ‘deteriorating’. Such signs can only exacerbate this issue and totally contradict the council’s recognition and efforts to visually improve perceptions of the town.
“These applications must be refused as part of a developing programme to eliminate clutter from the high street.”
In one of the applications British Telecom has applied to site two digital 75-inch LCD display screens on the footpath opposite 43 Westgate in Huddersfield town centre.
The pre-application advice from Kirklees for this states: “Wholly unacceptable due to harm to the significance of the Huddersfield Town Centre Conservation Area and surrounding listed buildings at this important gateway site for which there has been significant public realm improvements in the very recent past.
“The siting appears to be in a bus lay-by provided as part of this public realm initiative. Any re-siting would result in unnecessary clutter which the recent works to public realm have sought to remove. The harm would include that to the siting of the nearby Grade I listed Huddersfield Railway Station and Grade II listed 12,14,16,18,20 St. George’s Square.”
Another one is for two digital 75-inch LCD display screen for the footpath opposite numbers 2 and 4 Ramsden Street.
The pre-application advice for this one states: “Adverse impact on setting of listed town hall and the adjacent Prudential Assurance Buildings, amongst other listed buildings and harm to the significance of the Huddersfield Town Centre Conservation Area. Would result in unnecessary clutter in the wider public realm.
“There is already a two-sided advertisement display on the other side of the road. A recent proposal to upgrade this to a digital display was refused advertisement consent.”
Other applications include screens on a footpath outside the Piazza Shopping Centre on King Street; footpath next to 1 New Street close to the historic Market Place and the listed Market Cross; next to 106 New Street; next to 10 Trinity Street.
The pre-application advice for the Trinity Street one states: “Wholly unacceptable on the grounds of public safety. This footway forms an important route for students from Greenhead College to and from the town centre, including to the bus station. This unit would unacceptably reduce the width of the public footway.”