Huddersfield Food Festival heralds new era for St George’s Square

Aug 13 2009 By Neil Atkinson

THE revamped St George’s Square hosted its first major event today.

But visitors flocking to the Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival were only too aware that work still needs to be completed on parts of the £4m project.

However, the new man appointed to oversee the project believes the wait will be worthwhile.

Clr Peter McBride – who admits he has been a critic of the project in the past – says the finished Square will be a jewel in the town’s crown.

The Labour man is the third councillor to take responsibility for the long overdue project, following Clr Ken Simms (Cons) and Clr Christine Stanfield (LibDem).

Clr McBride, cabinet member for regeneration (South), said: “This week marks a major turning point for the town as it will be the first time people get to see the square working as an events space, giving a taste of further things to come.

“The redevelopment of the square has been beset by challenges, but I’m delighted to see that as completion draws closer it’s becoming easier to appreciate that the new wider boulevards and piazzas, as well as the re-routing and restrictions of traffic, are creating a flexible space which everyone can enjoy.

“I regularly visit the Kings Head pub in the square and have long admired all the buildings, at all times of the day and night.