Huddersfield Civic Society
  • Home
  • Events
    • REPORTS OF EVENTS
    • ARCHIVE OF EVENTS
  • News
  • Membership
    • Corporate members
    • Constitution
    • History of Huddersfield
    • Huddersfield quiz
    • Privacy policy
  • Publications
    • BOOKS
    • BOOKLET
  • Planning
  • Design Awards
  • Contact
  • Gallery

CIVIC SOCIETY NEWS

New biography 'rescues Huddersfield architect from obscurity'

25/8/2020

0 Comments

 
Founder's Building, Royal Holloway, University of London
Victorian architect W H Crossland
A biography to be published this month explores the 'mysterious and elusive' Huddersfield architect William Henry Crossland.

Crossland was born in 1835, the son of stone mason Henry Crossland, and baptised in Elland. By 1841, the family was living in Longwood House, Fartown.

He became a pupil of the London architect Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 1850s and went on to set up his own practice in Halifax. 


Read More
0 Comments

Council grants itself permission for three tall sculptures in town centre

4/8/2020

0 Comments

 
Kirklees Council has approved its own plan for three tall sculptures to be built on New Street, in spite of objections submitted by HCS.

Details of appearance or landscaping remain undisclosed but the council says approval of those matters must be obtained before development is begun.

All we know of the 'sculptural features' is that they will have a maximum height of 12 metres and be made of metal 'with an open structure to give a feeling of lightness'.

​This was the text of our objection sent to the council:

Read More
0 Comments

Council leader responds to HCS concerns about shake-up of the planning process

18/7/2020

0 Comments

 
Letter to His from Kirklees Council leader
Kirklees Council has given an assurance to Huddersfield Civic Society that it has 'no plans to weaken or abolish any planning committees'.

​The pledge by council leader Cllr Shabir Pandor was made in response to concerns expressed in a letter from society president, Bernard Ainsworth.


Cllr Pandor writes: 'Public input into decision making is an essential element of our democracy. Our focus as an administration is on improving engagement with local people and working with them on the issues that affect them. Localised decision making on planning issues is clearly part of that process.'


Read More
0 Comments

A tribute to hotelier Joe Marsden

9/7/2020

0 Comments

 
Joe Marsden, Huddersfield hotelier
By DAVID WYLES, Chairman, Huddersfield Civic Society

I was saddened to hear of the death of Joe Marsden who, with his brother John and families, contributed so much to the town over many years.

Joe epitomised what is termed ‘the hospitality industry’, with his warm welcome, generosity, humour and understanding of the people for whom the night club, bistro and hotels became their favourite venues.


Read More
0 Comments

HCS outlines its vision for the town's new station gateway

4/7/2020

0 Comments

 
A vision of Huddersfield's new station gateway
Huddersfield Civic Society is working to support Kirklees Council develop plans for the Huddersfield Blueprint’s Station Gateway.

A new, west-side station entrance, with a pedestrian link from St George’s Square, would revitalise the railway warehouse and surrounding area. The square itself would benefit from the removal of vehicles accessing the station.
 
This week the Society submitted an outline for a suggested approach to Peter Steniulis in the Council’s Major Projects Service.

Read More
0 Comments

HCS collaborates in effort to improve transport links

2/7/2020

0 Comments

 
HCS has established a joint transport working group with Huddersfield Unlimited to help improve transport links in and around the town.

 The group has identified five themes that are important to the economy and quality of life in the town, including digital connectivity. Initially the working group will focus on two areas:

Read More
0 Comments

'The magic key which could unlock the door of new growth in Huddersfield'

26/6/2020

1 Comment

 
Martin Booker of Fibre Architects
​Martin Booker, RIBA, Managing Director of Fibre Architects, gives a personal view on the future of town centres 

During the lockdown I’ve mainly been working from home and on the couple of occasions that I had to visit our office in Huddersfield I decided to cycle the seven miles to work on my recently purchased electric bike.

This made me realise the great work and investment that has been made by Kirklees and Sustrans in recent times to make this type of journey much more safe and enjoyable for cyclists, and the 30 minutes it took was only a little more than the 20 minutes it sometimes takes in the car.


Read More
1 Comment

HCS backing for move to bring National Rugby League Museum to George Hotel

25/6/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
The George Hotel in 1912
A plaque on the George Hotel,  Huddersfield
The George Hotel, birthplace of rugby league, is to house the sport's first national museum – a decision that has won the support of Huddersfield Civic Society.

Rugby League Cares have forged a partnership with Kirklees Council to bring the attraction to the hotel where clubs met in 1895 to agree a breakaway from the Rugby Football Union.


Read More
0 Comments

Support for Kirklees Council's proposals to upgrade the Open Market in Brook Street

11/6/2020

0 Comments

 
Huddersfield Open Market, Brook Street.
HCS is broadly supportive of Council proposals to upgrade the Open Market and efforts to secure Heritage Action Zone status for key buildings around St George’s Square.

However, it remains cautious about the viability of moving traders from Queensgate Market.


Read More
0 Comments

Radical changes for cyclists in Huddersfield

3/6/2020

2 Comments

 
A poster announcing an online meeting on bike-friendly towns
Richard Armitage
​An online talk last night to HCS members and supporters on a possible cycling strategy for Huddersfield proved remarkably prescient.

Kirklees Council today announced that a number of roads around Huddersfield and North Kirklees are to be turned over to cyclists as it uses the coronavirus crisis to "completely rethink the way towns work".


Read More
2 Comments

Discover Huddersfield walks programme cancelled until September

27/5/2020

0 Comments

 
By David Wyles

After consultation with colleagues from the Discover Huddersfield partnership, we feel there is no likelihood that walks will resume within the next few months. 

Even if the government allows such things to take place, our feeling is that many of our walkers may be classed 'vulnerable' or remain sensitive to joining a group. Similarly our walk leaders and support team may feel uneasy. 

Read More
0 Comments

Chairman's update on HCS related activities in and around town

25/5/2020

0 Comments

 
By David Wyles

I hope our members and their families have stayed free of the virus but if you have been infected, I wish you a speedy recovery.

Digital committee meeting
Your committee held its first online meeting on May 18 and was pleased to receive a presentation by Karl Battersby, Kirklees Strategic Director for Economy and Infrastructure. Work to realise key ambitions within the Blueprint is moving ahead and you may have seen reports on our web site and in the Examiner relating to the purchase of the George and other strategic buildings.

Read More
0 Comments

Join in our first online event: a talk on bike-friendly towns

20/5/2020

0 Comments

 
A group of bike riders to illustrate the Civic Society meeting on bike-friendly towns.
​Huddersfield Civic Society will hold its first online event next month when Richard Armitage gives a talk on bike-friendly towns.

Zoom will be used in webinar format to enable members to engage with our speaker at the meeting on June 2 at 7pm. The committee has been using this software successfully since March.

Richard, the Executive Director of the European Cycle Logistics Federation, will discuss what an ambitious cycling strategy for Huddersfield and south Kirklees might look like.

Booking for the event on Eventbrite is now open. If you register you will receive the Zoom link on June 1.
0 Comments

Despite Covid-19, Kirklees Council is committed to the Huddersfield Blueprint

15/5/2020

0 Comments

 
St Peter's Square, part of the Huddersfield Blueprint
The leader of Kirklees Council has spoken of his commitment to the Huddersfield Blueprint, despite the financial effects of the Coronavirus.

Coun Shabir Pandor was asked what impact a financial hole would have on elements such as the £250m Blueprint and Kirklees' commitment to climate change.

Read More
0 Comments

Zoom into Civic Voice interviews on planning, design and architecture

13/5/2020

0 Comments

 
Kevin Trickett of Civic VoiceKevin Trickett
​Civic Voice, the national charity for the civic movement in England, has arranged a series of online In Conversation with…. interviews.

Subjects with a background or interest in planning, design or architecture are interviewed by Kevin Trickett, acting chair of Market Weighton Civic Society. 

The interviews – conducted via Zoom video conferencing and about 30 minutes long – are open to all. The first took place on May 6, when planning consultant Graham Galpin was the interviewee. 

Here is the schedule of coming interviews:


Read More
0 Comments

While you're at home, write a poem, if you please, about Kirklees

6/5/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Poet Ian McMillanPoet Ian McMillan
The Lawrence Batley Theatre invites people to collaborate with Ian McMillan on a new poem to celebrate the strength of our community in light of the pandemic.

"While we’re all staying home and getting on with lockdown, we want to recognise the community spirit found in our region," the Huddersfield theatre says.

"To get involved, we’re asking you to reflect on what Kirklees means to you. This could be what you love most about living in Kirklees, what the best thing about your community is or what sort of place you hope Kirklees will be in the future."


Read More
0 Comments

Arts and Crafts villa Banney Royd for sale

28/4/2020

0 Comments

 
Banney Road Arts and Crafts villa in Edgerton
The sitting room in Banney Road Grade 1 listed house
Doorway with art nouveau decoration at Banney Royd
The dining room at Banney Road, Huddersfield
Entrance hall and staircase in Banney Royd mansion, Edgerton
Carved stone fireplace
Arts Deco fireplace in Banney Royd villa
Banney Royd, the Arts and Crafts house in Edgerton designed by the architect Edgar Wood, is again on the market.

The Grade I Listed villa, rich in Art Nouveau features, has been described by the architectural historian John Archer as 'an exceptional house of its generation'.

He writes: 'Throughout the house the best materials were used, and room by room the detailing was originally designed, from the fireplace down to the finger plates on the doors. Various features have the elongated forms characteristic of British Art Nouveau, but the general character of the design is robust and vigorous.'

Read More
0 Comments

Why Snow Island is now an attractive place to visit

20/4/2020

0 Comments

 
Volunteers working on Snow Island
Volunteers have converted a overgrown riverside open space into an attractive place to visit.

Snow Island, off King’s Mill Lane, has been developed as a public amenity by The Greenstreams Project, led by local environmental organisation Environment Kirklees. It has improved the pathways, installed artworks at gateways, cleared rubbish and provided picnic tables, with wheelchair space, and seating.

Read More
0 Comments

HCS gives feedback on supplementary Blueprint planning document

4/4/2020

0 Comments

 
An impression of the library extension as part of the Huddersfield Blueprint.
The Society is supportive of the approach, vision and ambition incorporated in the Huddersfield Town Centre Blueprint Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).
 

The types of change, areas of focus and sites identified for re-purposing represent a cogent strategy, with an appropriate mix of deliverable and aspirational elements, to give focus and direction for the town centre for the next 10 years.

Read More
0 Comments

Civic Society makes case for safe cycling on Leeds Road, Huddersfield

3/4/2020

0 Comments

 
The cycle lane at Moortown roundabout, Leeds
Moortown roundabout, Leeds: A dedicated cycle route has been engineered into a busy junction. It was funded by WYCA, as will be the Leeds Road Smart Corridor
By Chas Ball
​

​
HCS has submitted counter proposals to the Leeds Road (A62) Smart Corridor consultation on Phase 1 from Huddersfield Railway Station to Fieldhouse Lane.

The Society's response says that the proposed route does not provide a continuously safe cycle despite the Council’s proposal to “upgrade the existing cycle provision to include separate cycle ways and on-road cycle lanes”. 

In its evidence, HCS says that the scheme fails to achieve the aim of encouraging more cycling because “it is severely compromised by designing cycling to take place in close proximity to heavy traffic. 

Read More
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>
    Victoria Tower, Castle Hill  picture by Vinny Tyrell

    Comments may be made at the end of a story 
    Tweets by CivicSocietyHD

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    April 2018

Logo of Huddersfield Civic Society
© 2019 Huddersfield Civic Society. Registered Charity Number: 242397
News
Events
Picture Gallery
Privacy policy
Find us on Facebook and Twitter
  • Home
  • Events
    • REPORTS OF EVENTS
    • ARCHIVE OF EVENTS
  • News
  • Membership
    • Corporate members
    • Constitution
    • History of Huddersfield
    • Huddersfield quiz
    • Privacy policy
  • Publications
    • BOOKS
    • BOOKLET
  • Planning
  • Design Awards
  • Contact
  • Gallery