BIG debate looms on Huddersfield town centre – your chance to have your say:
tidjypudds: “In my opinion various things put people off the town centre. Too many pound shops, overpriced parking and hoards of ‘undesirables’ are just some examples. It amazes me that the kind of ‘techniques’ charity street collectors are seemingly allowed to get away with! Virtually every day the gauntlet must be run in order to get a sandwich for lunch. I thought begging on the streets had been outlawed.”
Jonah: “With out of town shopping centres and internet shopping being so easy there is no real point in the traditional town centre for shopping. I would pull down most of the ugly 1960s buildings and create gardens/bandstands/sporting areas/stocks/ducking ponds – turn the area into a place for public entertainment. As for that great big monstrosity being built near Folly Hall ...”
warren05: “Yes, we are able to have our say on here, but no doubt as usual the council will not listen to what the people who live and shop in Huddersfield have to say. Huddersfield is full of charity shops, pound shops, takeaways and bookies. One thing Huddersfield is lacking is a decent children’s clothes shop and a really good department store which sells things at a reasonable price.”
chrisone: “The deterioration of our town centre is reminiscent of Batley and Dewsbury. It is in terminal decline due to the population of Huddersfield having become more cosmopolitan, the vast majority of whom prefer to either shop at pound outlets or trade among themselves. It’s a culture thing! Traditionalists may seek to improve Huddersfield town centre, but why? It caters for the needs of those who use it, just as it did when the Shambles, Old Market Hall and the Pack Horse Mews were thriving. Those facilities were sadly destroyed and the replacements have been adequate until now. Our rapidly changing population has different needs and Kirklees Council must surely be aware of this. My further sentiments have ‘urban warrior’ status.”
rj: “They have had decades to sort this problem. What is the use of asking the public? Their views will be disregarded as they were for the St George’s Square fiasco. “Get more employment in the area and this will in itself inject more money into the tills of our beleaguered retailers. Clr Mehboob Khan and his colleagues have a lot to answer for with regard the demise of our town centre. I get so angry when I see the waste of public money. Overpaid executives should not be coming to us for a solution to a problem of their making.”