Huddersfield Civic Society’s Chairman’s Update May 2022

The George Hotel will be the subject of a talk on Tuesday, September 13. Photo by Andy Hirst from AH! PR

​We’ve had a great response for our evening visit to Halifax but below are details of other opportunities and consultations that are emerging from various organisations and from progress in relation to Kirklees Council’s town centre blueprint.

Events

Evening visit to Halifax town centre, Thursday, July 14
 
At the time of writing there were only a couple of places left for our evening visit to Halifax.
 
Evening stroll around Kirkburton, Wednesday, August 3, 6.30pm
 
Invitations for our stroll around Kirkburton, led by members of Kirkburton History Group, will be circulated in early July.
 
'The George Hotel: Understand… Interpret… Enhance!’, Tuesday, September 13 at 7pm

Please note the change of date for this free presentation by Helen Walker, Head of Heritage, Bowman Riley Architects which has been organised by HCS and Huddersfield Local History Society as part of the Heritage Open Days festival. Booking details will be sent out a few weeks before the event.
 
Discover Huddersfield Trails and Walks Programme 2022

Two walks are scheduled for June.

On Sunday, June 19, Jeff Keenlyside will lead a walk along the banks of the River Colne and canal to reveal proposals to develop the Huddersfield Riverside Nature Park. On Sunday, June 26, Stan Sagan explores the history and places associated with eastern European communities who came to Huddersfield following wars and geopolitical changes.

Bookings for each walk will be available via Eventbrite no more than 14 days before each walk. To view all the year’s walks go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/discover-huddersfield-guided-walks-programme-2022-120689.

Walks cost £4 per person and usually last between 90 minutes and 2 hours.

Memories of Our Square

As one of a range of initiatives under the High Streets/Heritage Action Zone Cultural Programme, the Memories of Our Square project provides an opportunity for people to share memories and images of activities relating to St. George’s Square.

Huddersfield Local History Society, which is leading the project, has now launched a photo competition with cash prizes for category winners and a closing date of October 3, 2022. To find out more go to https://oursquare.huddersfieldhistory.org.uk/
 
 
Holme Valley Riverside Way

From the moorlands above Holmfirth to its junction with the River Holme some of you will have walked the Riverside Way but found that sections require improved surfacing and waymarking. River Holme Connections (www.riverholmeconnections.org) whose volunteers do so much to improve the river and its surroundings has launched a crowdfunder to enable this work to be undertaken. You can support the project by going to: www.spacehive.com/riverside-way-revamp.
 
Town Centre Blueprint

In my last update I summarised a meeting myself and colleagues had with Kirklees Executive Director David Shepherd regarding progress and issues relating to the town centre blueprint.

As you may have seen the council has now launched a consultation relating to the ambitious proposals developed by Fielden, Clegg, Bradley Studios (FCB) for the town’s ‘Cultural Heart’. These were initially estimated to cost around £250million. HCS members will have differing views about the various elements of the proposals. I would, therefore, urge all members to take the time to visit the exhibition and submit comments.

Ahead of the submission of a planning application in the autumn there will be two phases of consultation - the first on early-stage design proposals and the second on more detailed design proposals.

This is the first period of public consultation which will run for four weeks until Sunday, June 19. You can meet the council and its delivery partners on Wednesday, June 8 between 2.30pm at 6.30pm and Thursday, June 9 between 12noon and 4pm at The Piazza, 25 Princess Alexandra Walk, HD1 2RS. If you can’t make those dates, the same unit will be open five days a week for three hours per day until Friday, June 17. See the website: www.kirkleesculturalheart.co.uk  for the opening times and also for an online link to ‘Have Your Say’ on the proposals.
 
Committee colleagues Martin Kilburn, Gideon Richards and Geoff Hughes were fortunate in having a direct meeting with James Sibson from FCB Studios on 26 May regarding the next stage of developing plans for the ‘Cultural Heart’ and are now making a further response building upon comments made after an initial meeting in early March which can be found in the HCS website ‘News’ section.

Planning Issues
Following my last update, recording our urgent need to recruit someone to help identify and respond to key planning applications affecting listed buildings, conservation areas and major developments, I am delighted that HCS member Cid Jackson has taken on the role.

Any relevant applications will be reviewed by Cid, myself and committee colleagues who live close to specific proposals and developments but we still need your help in ensuring any issues are brought to our attention.
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One example of this is the illegal signage on the face of 11 Greenhead Road, a grade 2 listed building. I have now written to Kirklees Conservation and Enforcement officers requesting the signage be removed.

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