IT was disturbing to read your article about the prospects for Castle Hill.
When councillors begin to talk up a situation it usually means they are preparing the public for a decision already reached within the closed circle.
They use phrases, “important heritage asset,” “iconic symbol,” “presence and significance beyond our boundaries,” “educational, archaeological and historic needs”.
If the site is such a gem why is it not buzzing with activity every year from all these scholarly groups?
We are clearly going to get a first-class, high-spec, expensive, fully-staffed visitor centre which, after the initial curiosity, will be used during the summer each month by half a dozen people, none local, and the occasional school party.
How much better to have a decent pub or restaurant like we had before?
Property development may not have been their expertise, but the Thandis knew how to run a good pub.
F J SHEARD
Almondbury
Preserve Castle Hill
HAVING read the article in the Examiner, I would like to submit my own opinions that Castle Hill should have been taken over by the council and developed as a heritage site years ago.
A low rise visitor centre as suggested by Clr Stanfield, giving visitors an idea of the history of the site and providing toilet facilities and refreshments is the best way forward.
Private development into a hotel site of any sort should be vetoed.
Castle Hill is the landmark of Huddersfield and our only real historical attraction, having been the site of a prehistoric fort and, in Tudor times, a real castle and it should always be available to residents of Huddersfield and visitors alike for interest and leisure.
We, the residents of Huddersfield wear the badge of the Victoria Tower atop the hill with pride. It is a local icon to be proud of.
I would also like to state that the proposed development of social housing on the lower slopes of Castle Hill between Longley and Newsome is also a dreadful idea that should be vetoed – brownfield sites are the place for large new developments, not greenfield sites with long ranging views.
It will be a total eyesore on views from Scapegoat Hill, Pole Moor, Wessenden Head and for miles around.
There is already too much development of the land around the hill.
As a leisure facility, the views from Castle Hill are stupendous but social housing up to its ankles will ruin the beauty of the place for tourists and residents alike.
VAL CARR
By email
Concert congratulations
I HAVE just returned home from a concert at the Town Hall in Huddersfield.
The headteacher and all her staff at Fartown High School should be so proud of their pupils, they were brilliant. The two boys who stood in as MCs did an excellent job and to finish off a brilliant night, Signature from Britain’s Got Talent were awesome.
EXAMINER READER
Newsome
School thanks
THROUGH your letters page may I express my gratitude to Mr Tony Hughes and staff at Longley Senior Autistic Provision Unit.
My son has attended this school for the past four years and the education and, more importantly, the life skills taught by this dedicated team have been second to none. My concerns for my son’s future have been greatly alleviated.
APRIL GINTY
Dalton
Afghanistan shame
LISTENING to Gordon Brown and his supporters, they would have us believe the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had nothing to do with Mr Brown.
They attempt to claim he has been lumbered with them, leftover from Blair’s leadership. Surely Mr Brown was second in commander, the ‘leader in waiting’? His hands are as bloodied as Blair’s.
Not one politician was present at the return of the bodies of the soldiers on Tuesday, which tells us all something of their respect for our lads.
They cannot provide adequate equipment or manpower for our lads, but there is a bottomless pit for their own expense claims.
Would it not be better for them to be made to carry the coffins from the plane and follow on foot through the town with their heads held down in shame?
GEZ SHARP
Huddersfield
Tesco not needed
TESCO and the sports centre – so, Kirklees Council finally showed their true colours.
Political planning for the benefit of a few but not most of the rate and taxpayers of Kirklees. The planners are supposed to look after the people who pay their salaries. Not the supermarkets, especially Tesco.
According to most national newspapers Tesco buy real estate to stop other companies getting and building there.
I have not been to Tesco for two years and if I ever thought about the big one in Brighouse, I remember there is an Asda on the way.
Personally I think there are more than enough supermarkets around Huddersfield to suit everyone already.
It will help to keep people out of the town centre but that is not the only issue.
Parking and parking fees are the other.
If you think that taking people off the road and using the buses will alter that, just remember that two hands cannot hold as much shopping as the boot and inside of a car.
So a lot of people who do get on a bus, like myself sometimes, do not buy their usual load of shopping, so it is still less trade in the town.
In fact, I have voted with my car and feet in protest and mostly go elsewhere like Meltham, Shaw, Cleckheaton Wakefield and Dewsbury.
Some of these are still in Kirklees but it is not Huddersfield.
I do not have the type of figures that the council can come up with but I expect that fewer then 50% of the people who use the new sports centre are rate or taxpayers of Kirklees, if you take age and circumstances in to account.
MARTIN FLETCHER
Berry Brow
Who benefits?
I SEE that the grandly-titled Kirklees cabinet have decided to pass the Tesco application and reaffirm the decision to close the Tourist Information Centre.
No real surprises here, as our council sticks to its decisions. But they seem unaware of the consequences of their actions. The death of Huddersfield town centre is now a reality.
Following decisions to close Castle Hall school, the after-school club at Deighton, New Mill Library and despoil St George's Square, all against public opinion I might add, I wonder what the council’s philosophy is?
Who benefits from these decisions? I understood that the Kirklees motto was ‘we serve’.
Just who are these people serving?
Recent bizarre decisions taken by this ‘five star council’ confirm my view that our lot have graduated with honours in ‘boneheadedness’.
TREVOR WOOLLEY
Linthwaite
Parking issues
I AM writing in reference to the ongoing story of Tesco buying the site of the present sports centre and building a new one on the existing Spring Grove car park.
I just have one question – what is the council’s plan for accommodating all the cars that currently park in the car park?
Nowhere within the article, or in any previous ones to my recollection, has this issue been mentioned. Is there a plan or are existing facilities, like the multi-storey car park, merely expected to cope with the obvious increase in demand?
MR G OLDFIELD
Huddersfield
Unnecessary Tesco
KIRKLEES Council are authorising yet another supermarket on the Southgate ring road.
Is this necessary? No.Will it cause traffic chaos? Of course it will. Will town centre workers lose valuable car parking? Yes. Do we already have sufficient sports facilities in Huddersfield? Yes.
It is high time our councillors realised they have not got the expertise to make such decisions. Decisions on Huddersfield should be made by councillors elected to Huddersfield wards.
Finally, Kirklees is the name of the council. There is no such place on a map. How come we have signs saying, Welcome to Ashbrow and Welcome to Lockwood, yet nothing to tell people they are entering Huddersfield?
HARD UP AND FED UP
Fixby
Useless CCTV?
IN THIS day and age where we send probes into outer space, walk on the moon, speak to people on the other side of our planet on a tiny mobile phone, have digital cameras, emails, computers that can do most things – why cant we get decent CCTV pictures?
All the ones I’ve seen are fuzzy, blurred and look like a Picasso painting. You wouldn’t even recognise your own mother.
As for finding the culprits on these pictures, they’re having a laugh.
S SUTTON
Marsh
