​Greg Marsden, Professor of Transport Governance at Leeds University, drew a large audience for his address on the future of travel in Kirklees at our September meeting.

Rather than focussing on autonomous vehicles or flying cars, he drew attention to the important changes in society which have reduced the amount that people are travelling. 

​A full report may be found here.

By David Wyles

The news of the sudden death of former HCS President Richard Ward, was a shock to his many friends and colleagues in the society. 

Richard passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, September 3, having collapsed at home the day before from a brain haemorrhage.

​The previous day, he had celebrated his daughter's birthday with his wife Pam and members of his family.

He made a huge contribution to the work of the society. I had known him for almost 25 years and shared many of his aspirations, efforts and frustrations in promoting and improving the heritage of the town and its related health and vitality. 

Before becoming President, Richard had been Chairman of the society for 10 years and was instrumental in promoting the principles of civic pride and civic responsibility. A committee member from 1979, he was Vice Chair from 1980 to 1991,  Treasurer from 1984 to 1991 and President from 2001 to 2017.

Over the years he led the steering group liaising with Kirklees Council over streetscape and shop front improvements, promoting 'In Bloom' and 'Tidy Trader' initiatives and, more recently, advising and judging the annual HCS Design Awards

In recent years he had taken retirement and moved to the east coast where he became involved with Scarborough CS and Scalby Village Trust as well as maintaining his role as treasurer of the Yorkshire and Humberside Assoc of Civic Societies (YHACS). 

However, he remained a regular attendee at our meetings as well as advising on constitutional matters on which his skills as a solicitor provided steady and logical guidance. Many of us will miss his humour, company and loyalty to our town.

Friends and family are invited to Woodlands Crematorium, Scarborough for a service of committal at noon on Monday, September 16. This will be followed by a service of Thanksgiving at 1pm at Westborough Methodist church, Scarborough YO11 1TS.

Over two dozen new locations will open their doors across Kirklees as part of the National Heritage Open Days Festival from September 13 – 22.

A record 68 sites and events will celebrate the area’s heritage and culture, offering an insight into places not always open to the public. 

Last year almost 5,000 people enjoyed the chance to explore a range of historic places and participate in a variety of events.  

This year’s programme is more widely spread across Kirklees, with ten new events in Dewsbury and Mirfield alongside well-established favourites in Huddersfield and the Valleys.  

All venues and events are free, although, because of limited capacity, a small number have to be booked. 

Among some of this year’s new entries are visits to Dewsbury’s oldest shop, trading since 1860 and now an intimate museum; a converted C19 piggery with Bronte connections in Mirfield; the remote Shred Mission Chapel above Slaithwaite; a walk to discover Lockwood and the history of its Spa; and a chance to explore and understand Huddersfield’s Buddhist centre in Birkby.  

Other highlights are linked to this year’s national theme ‘People Power’, celebrating individuals and communities who have worked together to bring about change. 

These include a talk by Georgina Hutchison, author of ‘Under the Canopy of Heaven’, a novel about Luddite George Mellor; a tour of Greenhead Park led by Thomas Denham, who set out his vision for it in 1869; and a  talk at Huddersfield’s Hall of Science (now Ramsay  Clay) built by followers of early socialist, Robert Owen.

Details of all 68 events and the booking process can be found in the Kirklees Heritage Open Days brochure, which is being distributed to information points and libraries across Kirklees, by going to the national web site or by downloading the file below.

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. 

​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'. 

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:

• The medieval All Hallows' Church
• 16th century Wormall Hall
• Weavers' cottages
• Almshouses
• Public buildings
• Memorials
• Other key features spanning over 500 years.

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.