Kirklees Council refuses permission for new hotel at Castle Hill in Almondbury

Mar 19 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Mick Thandi at the Castle Hill planning meeting

Labour’s Clr Barbara Jones, of Greenhead, said the proposal to set aside one room of the hotel as a visitors centre was not enough. She said: “We need something at least the size of a primary school classroom.”

Labour’s Clr Molly Walton attacked the Thandi Partnership.

The Crosland Moor and Netherton woman said: “It’s all right having this romantic notion that the applicants care about people. They broke the rules and don’t let’s forget that.

“By demolishing the building – which they had no right to do – they put themselves in this situation.”

The subcommittee agreed by seven votes to three to refuse the plan on the grounds that the Thandi Partnership had not shown “very special circumstances” which would allow building in the Green Belt.

Clrs Walton, Jones and Christine Smith voted for refusal, along with Lindley Lib Dem Clr Tony Woodhead, Kirkburton Conservative Clr Adrian Murphy, Golcar Lib Dem Clr Christine Iredale and Holme Valley North Conservative Clr Beryl Smith.

Clrs Sokhal, Hall and Cook voted for the plan.

The two Almondbury councillors on the sub-committee took no part in the discussion or the voting. Clr Ann Denham told the meeting she had a prejudicial interest preventing her from taking part.

Her fellow Lib Dem Clr Linda Wilkinson, who chairs the sub-committee, also took no part because she had featured in an election leaflet.

She said: “I have expressed no view on Castle Hill Hotel and I have no personal or prejudicial interest.

“Public perception in a pre-election period is sensitive. A publication showing myself and others at Castle Hill may impact negatively on the public’s perception.”

Clr Murphy chaired the discussion in Clr Wilkinson’s absence.

Immediately after the vote, Mick Thandi told the Examiner: “We’re very disappointed. I was very surprised that the decision has gone against us when the building had been there since 1810.

“We’ll have to see what the next move will be.”

1810: A pub is built at Castle Hill.

1899: The Earl of Scarborough officially opens Victoria Tower, built to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee.

1998: Mick and Barry Thandi buy the Castle Hill Hotel

2002: Kirklees gives the Thandi brothers permission to build a 10-bedroom extension.

2003: Part of the hotel is demolished during the expansion.

2004: Work is halted after complaints that too much of the original hotel had been torn down.

2005: The hotel is demolished.