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An evening guided walk will highlight the wealth of sculptural and other public art in the centre of Huddersfield. It will be led by Chris Marsden, former chairman of Huddersfield Civic Society and author of the recently published, ‘Huddersfield in 50 Buildings’. The walk will start from the Harold Wilson statue in St George’s Square at 7pm on Thursday, July 18, and last about an hour and a half. It will take in features of national importance, including the world’s largest ceramic panels at Queensgate Market and the stone figures outside the library as well as superbly carved figures to be found on the Kirkgate Buildings, Lloyds TSB and Britannia Buildings. Chris will reveal the background and artists responsible for the works as well as the stories behind various mosaics including ‘Systematic Sequence in Line and Shade’ and ‘Development of the Woollen Industry’. Further information about the programme of walks organised by Discover Huddersfield and a series of free trails, can be found at local information points and libraries or by visiting www.discoverhuddersfield.com. The walks costs £3 per person but no booking is required.
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 Nearly 600 businesses in Huddersfield are being balloted on the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID). They are voting on whether to pay a levy on top of existing business rates to create a £2.2m pot of cash to be spent on improving the town over five years. The result will be announced on Friday, July 12. The levy income will come from businesses within the two BID zones, which cover the sector within the ring road and the immediate surrounding areas. Businesses will pay an extra 1.5% or 0.75% if they are within both zones. If the vote is successful, the BID will run to 2024, with the potential for extension or renewal. The BID investment objectives are:
BIDS were launched by the government to allow an extra levy to be charged on firms in certain areas that wish to group together to finance long-term projects. Kirklees Council supports the BID. Among the 300 UK towns and cities operating with BID status are Halifax, Leeds, Sheffield and Wakefield. Representatives on the BID board and steering group include the University of Huddersfield, Boots, Lawrence Batley Theatre, McDonalds, the Media Centre, and the Piazza Shopping Centre as well as the Federation of Small Businesses, Huddersfield Civic Society and the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Vernon O’Reilly, Chair of Huddersfield Steering Group, says: 'Huddersfield is a place which has a sense of community but is seeking direction, a sense of purpose and a clear identity in a rapidly changing world. 'Towns and cities across the UK are changing rapidly and we need to ensure that Huddersfield does not get left behind but takes advantage of its unique position in terms of its attractive environment, its cultural heritage and the strength of its people through their passion for the town. 'This plan provides us with a clear direction for a new exciting era in Huddersfield. I urge you to get involved and work together for the future of the town and our businesses by voting YES in the ballot in June.'  Our day out to Sheffield on July 13 includes a tour of one of the most interesting areas of inner city regeneration in Yorkshire, Kelham Island.
We will gather outside the main entrance to Sheffield Railway Station at 9.30 - 9.40 (the 8.12am train from Huddersfield arrives at 9.28am) to be met by our hosts from Sheffield Civic Trust. Our planned itinerary:
At Kelham Island we will meet our guides for the morning, Kevin Gillespie from CITU and Anders Hanson of the Kelham Island Residents Group. Kelham Island was one of the first industrial Conservation Areas and has been voted as one of the UK’s greatest neighbourhood. You’ll find yourself surrounded by a mix of residential, cultural, business, independent cafes, bars and galleries. Little Kelham is home to some of Sheffield’s finest industrial heritage including the Grade II* Globe Works, one of England’s oldest surviving cutlery and tool factories. CITU in partnership with Historic England has restored some of these buildings in a way that retains their original features, but integrates the latest sustainable technology to ensure they are ultra-low carbon. Developments have created a unique environment and community, which will, hopefully engender some ideas on the potential of similar areas in Huddersfield. After lunch there are a number of options:
Return from Sheffield in your own time. The cost for the morning tour of Kelham Island and lunch is £15 per person. The above can be booked through our Treasurer, Michael Barron (01484 537080). Please do so by Monday July 1 so we can confirm numbers for the morning tour, lunch and Chapter House visit. Please let Michael know numbers if you are attending, whether you have any dietary requirements for lunch (vegetarian, gluten free) and if you would also like to book the tour of the Cathedral’s Chapter House.  David Wyles opens our environment workshop at the Media Centre.  Coun Andrew Cooper outlines his vision for the town centre.  Elaine Kerrell spoke about the national waste strategy and its implications An environment workshop organised by Huddersfield Civic Society looked at key areas that will affect future priorities for the town. Waste expert Dr Elaine Kerrell introduced the recently published national waste strategy and explored its implications for Kirklees Council. “There are expected to be new requirements for the council to separately collect food waste and garden waste”, she said. “Achieving 50% recycling rates by 2020 from today’s rate of 27% is going to be challenging”. Elaine suggested that adding a food waste collection would help to reduce contamination of the green bins. Coun Andrew Cooper, whose ward includes the town centre, proposed that art installations, children’s play areas and outdoor exercise facilities be used to revitalise the town centre. He presented examples from his recent visits to Spain and Romania as part of his work as a UK member of the EU Committee of the Regions. Chas Ball, a member of the HCS board, presented the plans for local action on air pollution. He said that Kirklees Council’s consultation on air quality was due out soon. He described how the health effects arising from diesel vehicles caused 1,000 premature deaths in West Yorkshire. Chas suggested that council’s draft strategy will feature work in progress to reduce congestion by improving urban traffic control. It will also announce the installation of 17 rapid chargers (in pairs) for electric vehicles across the borough of which half will be reserved for taxi use. He said the draft strategy would also stress the importance of an effective walking and cycling strategy. The workshop succeeded in stimulating members to consider practical and policy responses to the environmental agenda. It follows a successful workshop in October on the 'Future of the Town'.  Chas Ball presents the plans for action on air pollution.   More than 60 Huddersfield residents took to the streets for a clean-up of the town centre over the weekend. Go to Town – the big clean-up on May 10 - 12 was organised by Environment Kirklees and supported by Huddersfield Civic Society and Clare Hill Community Centre. Kim Warren, project coordinator said: ‘Kirklees Council does a lot of work to keep the town centre streets clean and volunteers regularly clean up the footpaths by the river and canal – but there are still areas that get missed. ‘In Go to Town we are tackling the private land, car parks and green spaces that are often left out and contain a lot of litter. Today we have reduced that in the parts of the town centre and its gateway that let the side down.’ Volunteers, including councillors from Newsome and Greenhead wards, were issued with tools, litter-picking equipment, and hi-vis vests. On Friday and Saturday, the north and south approaches to the town centre were targeted including footpaths on the River Colne corridor. On Sunday the work programme concentrated on the town centre. Go to Town was supported by Kirklees Council with funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. A trail leaflet that reveals the historic centre of Almondbury has been produced by the Discover Huddersfield Partnership. The trail, the 16th in the series, follows a route through the heart of the village. It includes:
Almondbury (or Ambry) originated around 625 BC with an undefended hut settlement on the commanding viewpoint of Castle Hill. Ancient packhorse trails and later turnpikes brought London buyers via Almondbury to northern England’s sheep-rearing areas. Edward 1 granted a market charter to Henry de Lacy in 1294. By 1475 Almondbury market’s cloth sales ranked fourth out of seventeen in Yorkshire. King James's Grammar School received its royal charter from the King in 1608. The first National School in the area was founded in 1818 in buildings to the west of the church. It eventually became the infant school. The trail is available from local information points, including libraries and the railway station. Others produced by the partnership include themes as varied as Public Art, the Ramsden Family, Historic Buildings, World War 1, Caribbean Heritage, Radical History, Music and Real Ale. A programme of themed walks, including the guided walk around Almondbury in September, is available from information points or by visiting Discover Huddersfield.  Residents, community groups and councillors will be taking to the streets for a clean-up of the town centre this weekend, May 10 -12. Go to Town – the big clean up is organised by the not-for-profit company Environment Kirklees and Huddersfield Civic Society. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for one of three days on www.environmentkirklees.org/gototown. They will be issued with tools, litter picking equipment, and hi-vis vests. Kim Warren, Project Coordinator said: 'While Huddersfield is full of stunning architecture and fringed by havens of green tranquillity, there are times when the willing hands of volunteers are needed to get stuck in. 'Kirklees Council does a lot of work to keep the town centre streets clean and volunteers regularly clean up the footpaths by the river and canal – but there are still areas that get missed. 'In Go to Town we are tackling the private land, car parks and green spaces are often left out and contain a lot of litter. We are contacting some landowners and businesses to ask if we can tackle their sites so that there are fewer parts of Huddersfield that let the side down.’ On Friday and Saturday, the north and south approaches to the town centre will be targeted including parts of the River Colne corridor. On Sunday the work will concentrate on the town centre. You are invited to our workshop where the environmental issues that contribute to making Huddersfield a town to live, work and study in will be considered. When: May 18, 2019, 9.45am - 1.15pm Where: Media Centre, Northumberland Street HD1 1PL Key Themes: Alternatives to the car Waste and litter Cherishing our green spaces Improving air quality Speakers and feedback Specialist speakers will briefly introduce each topic and outline the local context before opening up the debate to members. It will take place against a background of recent developments within Kirklees Council including the declaration of a “climate emergency” and the publication of a draft air quality strategy. As with the workshop in October we will collate the verbal and written comments (using post-its) into a report. Cost HCS invites members and guests to attend. The event is open to non-members. There is no delegate charge but we are asking for donations at registration to cover our costs: £2 (HCS members, students, unwaged) and £5 (non-members). This will include free hot drinks. Timetable and refreshments Coffee, tea and pastries will be available from 09.45 and Café Ollo will be open throughout the workshop for drinks and snacks. The programme starts at 10.15 and end at 13.15. It will include a short comfort break at about noon. Location and parking The Media Centre is less than 5 minutes walk from the railway station and 10 minutes from the bus station. On a Saturday there is plenty of half-day pay and display car parking close by (e.g. Bath Street off-street, Broadway on street). Limited free parking will be available in Eastwood & Partners car park, Northumberland Street – if you need to park close to the venue, please book a space through the form below. Booking in advance. Please reserve your place via the RSVP form below or leave a message on 01484 511045. We will also have an Eventbrite site for booking places.  The annual general meeting of Huddersfield Civic Society was held on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, in the Reception Room of Huddersfield Town Hall. Chairman: David Wyles. AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence. 2. Minutes of the 2018 AGM (download link at the foot of this page). 3. Matters arising from the 2018 AGM minutes. 4. Chairman’s Report. 5. Treasurer's Report. 6. Election of Executive Committee. Officers:
Other Committee Members:
NOTE. Membership Co-ordinator (Ex officio): Laura West 7. Appointment of Independent Examiner. 8. Any other business. The meeting was followed by Huddersfield in 50 Buildings, an illustrated talk by Chris Marsden. 
 The story of Huddersfield's rise to national prominence, told through some of its finest architecture, has been published. Huddersfield in 50 Buildings is by Chris Marsden, a former chairman of Huddersfield Civic Society, with pictures by Andrew Cavaney. Chris will speak about his book at the HCS meeting on April 2. Among structures celebrated are the railway station, the University's Oastler Building and, perhaps more controversially, Queensgate Market. Over 96 pages, Chris and Andrew take readers on a tour of historic buildings and modern architectural landmarks. Chris says: "Introducing and exploring the history of the town through 50 significant buildings of all ages allows new perspectives on our townscape. Buildings that we may take for granted have histories that show us what we were. "Their secret histories link buildings together through their builders, occupants, purposes and events. I’m asked daily about the town and its buildings I hope the book will answer many questions and provoke still more." The book also includes archive photographs that have not been seen for decades or are published for the first time. Chris's top five buildings:
Huddersfield in 50 Buildings, Amberley Publishing, 13.49. |
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