WORK has finally started on ripping down the Castle Hill hotel.

But it will not be demolished within a deadline set by Kirklees councillors.

Council planning chiefs have confirmed that the Thandi Partnership expects to break Kirklees's enforcement notice by not being able to demolish the building fully by January 11.

In a letter sent to Kirklees planning officers after work had finally started, Mark Lee, of the original architecture firm for the project, Lockwood-based One 17, said the site would not be returned to its original state by the deadline.

He could not confirm exactly when the job would be finished.

Although it is thought those parts above ground, including the brick and metal framework, will be down on time extensive work will be needed to fill in holes and to turf the area.

Yesterday work had once again come to a halt. Ian Muff, building manager, refused to let anybody work on the site because of high winds.

He said: "All the outer brickwork is down, but I cannot have anyone working up there at the moment. It is far too windy.

"I don't know when we will be able to start again, but we may well be working this week."

The Thandi Partnership were ordered to demolish the building, near the Victoria Tower, after Kirklees found it was higher and larger than the original plans.

A stop notice was put on the building work last May.

Although the Thandis originally appealed, they finally backed down and agreed to start removing the work already done in November.

Recently, fearing no work would start, Kirklees Council discussed whether to consult a solicitor to seek to get an injunction against the Thandis and force them to begin work, but demolition had started by that time.

Planning officer Bill Topping confirmed that if all the work was not done by January 11 it would be up to the council as to what would happen next.

"They were given 56 days to get the structure down, which is double the usual allowed in the circumstances," he said.

"As far as we are aware work only started last week and they are not going to get it down in time now.

"There was a period before any work started on the site.

"I don't know what the delay was," added Mr Topping.