A HERITAGE watchdog says Huddersfield’s history is in danger of being destroyed.

Huddersfield and District Archaeological Society claims numerous sites of historical interest are under threat, along with large swathes of green fields and the rural landscape as we know it.

HDAS members are so concerned with radical development proposals that they have issued a statement entitled Archaeology in Danger on their website.

They are concerned that planning safeguards will disappear under the Government’s draft National Planning Framework and Localism Bill.

The society is calling on all residents of Huddersfield to help them protect historic and sites and buildings.

The statement says: “We are concerned that proposed legislation now passing through Parliament could threaten not only potential sites of historic importance, but also sites we have already discovered but which have not yet been given any official protection.”

The society is urging individuals to contact them with nominations of interesting historical features and buildings, particularly those not already listed.

The sites will be visited and details passed on to the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service (WYAAS).

This body keeps the Historic Environment Record for the county and, as the law now stands, has to be consulted before planning permission is granted.