£150,000 hotel bill for St George's works

Feb 13 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Huddersfield St George’s Square revamp has lost us £150,000, hotel manager claims

Earlier this week, a spokesman for Kirklees Council’s regeneration department, blamed the power cuts on Yorkshire Electricity Distribution (YEDL) and Mr Wakeley also slammed the utility company’s unhelpful attitude.

“We rang up to complain about a big hole outside our entrance and we were told they’re allowed five days to fill it in.

“These utility companies seem untouchable,” he added.

A spokesman for CE Electric UK, owners of YEDL, apologised for the power cuts.

He said: “There have been two cable faults in the area that have been affecting the electricity supply.

“Water has been getting into the cables which causes a power cut.

“When the water evaporates the power comes back on.

“The good news is this week we have managed to find both areas of damaged cable and permanent repairs have now been done.”

Kirklees Council leader, Clr Mehboob Khan, said the previous Conservative administration had failed to include any penalty clauses to keep the square’s contractors in line.

Clr Khan apologised for the problems and said his cabinet would investigate potential avenues of compensation.

Oct 2007: The £4m square facelift is revealed but plans to relocate the iconic statue of former PM Harold Wilson upset Lady Wilson and Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The Examiner is flooded with letters protesting against the plan.

May 2008: Work begins but plans to move the statue to outside the Head of Steam are scrapped.

June 2008: Regeneration chief, Clr Ken Sims, claims the project will be finished by October.

July 2008: Clr Christine Stanfield fails to block use of £215,000 of pink Chinese Granite.

November 2008: 11-tonne Harold Wilson statue is moved nearer to John William Street.

February 2009: Kirklees Council admit the project is two months behind schedule but claim it will be completed in March.