COUNCILLORS have committed millions to regenerate a town.
Kirklees Council’s Cabinet plans to spend £12m on Dewsbury.
Council leader Clr Robert Light made the announcement yesterday .
He said: “I want everyone who cares about Dewsbury to get on board with us, talk the town up, and show a commitment that they want the town to go places.”
Clr Light explained how the cash would be spent.He said: “It will be used for things such as strategic property purchases to smooth the way for town centre development proposals.”
The council’s Conservative Cabinet is committed in principle to major redevelopment of the town centre alongside the Stayton Group.
The area involved includes Halifax Road, Northgate, Bond Street, Branch Road, Westgate, Grove Street, Daisy Hill, Church Street, South Street, and the bus station.
Plans would provide up to 400,000 sq ft of shopping area and as much as 790,000 sq ft for offices, housing, leisure, education, and a hotel, as well as a 650-space multi-storey car park.
Clr Light added: “The scale of this plan is immense and will change the face of Dewsbury and benefit thousands of people for generations.
“It will mean upheaval and disruption, but that is inevitable if we are seriously going to revive the town for the 21st century.”
Clr Light also provided a list of other investment – either committed or planned for Dewsbury including:
l £1m-plus for the town hall
l £1m for library, information centre and children’s centre in Thornhill Lees, and similar planned for Ravensthorpe
l £3m already invested in the sports centre
l Multi-million pound investment in new and improved high schools
l The Dewsbury Waterfront project – a multi-million pound blueprint
l The next phase of Dewsbury Market improvements
l £5m already spent on improving and rebuilding road network in Dewsbury, with at least £2m more planned
l Grants for improving shopfronts
Clr Light concluded: “This Cabinet, and this council, has made the regeneration of Dewsbury a priority. I want everyone who is committed to our vision for Dewsbury to work with us to put this town back on the map as a vibrant shopping centre.”
