The many recent announcements on transport in the North were discussed by the executive committee of  the Yorkshire and Humber Association of Civic Societies. 

The discussion, prompted by concerns of the Huddersfield Civic Society, is reported in the winter edition of Civic Voice, which may be downloaded, below.

Other issues covered in the newsletter include a view on Yorkshire devolution, an update on Dales development and the revamp of Ossett Civic Trust.

​Castle Hill
Following the HCS’s request for the application be called in by the Secretary of State we are still awaiting news. A number of serious accidents have occurred on the access road to the hill in recent weeks and we feel that these dangers will be exacerbated if development is allowed to go ahead and traffic volumes increase.

High Streets heritage action zone cultural programme
Positive news has been received from Kirklees team leader, Town Centre Conservation and Design. The owner of most of the shop fronts on the section of John William Street has appointed an architect to submit a grant application for shopfront improvements. Those shops not participating are now subject to enforcement action. We have long been advocating for improvement

Work on the George Hotel is progressing with the removal of asbestos. A conservation architect and structural engineer are expected to be appointed soon to prepare schedules for external and internal repairs to the fabric.

A further report calling for the full electrification of the trans-Pennine railway line has been welcomed by Huddersfield Civic Society.

The report, ‘Rail Needs Assessment for the North and the Midlands' (December 2020) produced by the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), has suggested that by prioritising regional links the government can maximise its return on rail investment.

It follows the ‘unambiguous support’ of the Secretary of State for Transport, reported in our news item Government acknowledges the case for TransPennine rail electrification.