BUSINESSMEN have submitted a third application to rebuild their pub on Castle Hill.

Mick and Barry Thandi yesterday submitted another application to build a replica of the building which was knocked down in 2005 following a dispute with Kirklees Council.

And they hope that a plan to control traffic on the narrow steep road up the hillside will help their case.

The brothers’ plan to build another Castle Hill Hotel was first rejected in 2010 because the site lies on green belt land.

And in October this year, the Thandis’ plan was narrowly rejected by eight out of 15 councillors over concerns the development would have on traffic in the area.

But yesterday Kirklees Council received another application from architects One17, of Netherton, and their clients, the Thandis.

The plan is very similar to the one rejected by Kirklees Council last month but includes a scheme to manage traffic accessing Castle Hill from Castle Hill Side.

The scheme involves two traffic lights – one at the bottom of the approach and another at the top.

Motion sensors would be installed to detect if vehicles are on the access road or are waiting at the top and bottom of the approach.

The system is designed to stop vehicles passing each other on the approach to the pub.

Traffic concerns were just one of the issues discussed by councillors.

Mark Lee, a partner at One17 said he hoped the traffic scheme would address councillors’ concerns about the impact on traffic in the area.

Mr Lee said: “The traffic management plan, we hope, will address that.

“It shouldn’t cause too much disruption.

“We can do it all in the existing carriageway so it will not impact on the status of the site.”

But Huddersfield Civic Society yesterday said it would still be opposing the plan.

Chairman Chris Marsden said: “The hotel occupies a site which is green belt and that requires exceptional circumstances.

“We need to protect our green belt and ancient monuments and this could be destroying the council’s own planning policy.

“We must protect our own planning policy or it could become a free-for-all like it was before the war.

“We will be objecting to the application on the same grounds as before.

“The traffic is just one issue out of many.”

Mr Marsden added: “I speak as someone who used to enjoy going to the Castle Hill Hotel.”

The controversy has raged for years over whether or not the pub should be rebuilt.

Many have argued that the landmark hill needs some facilities for visitors.

But others have insisted a building such as a pub would detract from the special nature of the site, which dates back thousands of years.