A ROSY picture is painted (Monday, September 12) of Thornhill Estates’ proposals for the development of 642 acres of green belt land, which it appears is being put forward for altruistic reasons, being purely for the benefit of the town.
According to Thornhill Estates such a massive development would “help retain the existing workforce within the district’’ and “encourage out-workers back.’’
It would form a solid urban boundary to the motorway, which would “improve public perception of the town.’’
It would support Huddersfield industries by providing new workspace for them and the 800 or so houses in the Grimescar valley would have a “village character with square’’ and “supporting retail and public functions.’’
There would be a new hotel and massive supermarket, both close up against the motorway and huge investments in the Fixby golf club including yet another hotel.
Also Care home, shops, an ‘Eco-Centre’ – and all this sacrifice of irreplaceable open fields for the benefit of all of us it is implied – with no mention of the £320 millions or thereabouts which Thornhill Estates could expect to clear (at recent rates) from the sale of Huddersfield’s precious green belt.
Forgive me if I say “I told you so’’ about the effect of the Government’s ‘Presumption in Favour of Development’.
Until that dreadful phrase was released, no-one would have dreamed of putting forward so outrageous a proposal.
But now ‘Anything Goes.’
Arthur Quarmby
Underhill, Holme
What about the roads?
WHAT amazes me is that the LDF housing proposals for the Holme Valley – and indeed suggested new supermarkets – appear to take absolutely no account of our limited road network.
There is no way the A616 and 6024 can be widened and there is ever-increasing congestion in Holmfirth, New Mill and at the Honley junction.
Worse still are the developing rat-runs such as Smithy Place Lane in Brockholes which is already prohibited to heavy lorries – provided, of course, that the drivers can read English.
Let’s face the fact that yet more housing would inevitably result in reducing our existing property values. Indeed, I already note that some homes have remained on the market far longer than is usual.
Our superb environment would also suffer if viable farmland was lost forever.
I write as a former Holme Valley Parish councillor, founding chairman of the Brockholes Village Trust and a member of the Brockholes Action Group which, it should be noted, was successful in opposing Kirklees UDP proposals about 15 years ago for more industry and housing on the very the land the LDF is again identifying for development!
Indeed, some development over the years here in Brockholes has been absolutely deplorable with the result that we don’t even have a single public car park.
Altogether therefore might I appeal to everyone to think carefully about our future and give their views to the planners and local politicians.
Martin Noble
Brockholes
Invest in new businesses
THE coalition government’s central economic strategy is to build anywhere in the UK (greenbelt, greenfields, open spaces etc) but this is basically doomed to failure.
With a projected debt that equates to £264,000+ of debt for every man, woman and child in Britain, there is no way in which mass development will happen and thereby transform our economic fortunes.
The only thing that will happen is that it will make the minority landowners even richer and developers will be allowed to build on greenbelt and greenfields before brownfield and less attractive sites.
The whole plan is sheer madness. What the UK needs to do is to re-engineer its industrial base and develop new technological industries.
We really have to get back to the fundamentals of building a nation, not pie-in-the-sky building programmes that have, in reality, no buyers at the end of the day.
We have the brain power to create new industrial bases if government would only listen, as according to the Germans and Japanese we are the most inventive people in the world and have, through our fundamental thinking, created 54% of the modern world as we see it today.
Overall we are barking up the wrong tree as usual (what government and Whitehall usually do) and where our efforts should really be directed towards huge investment in new technological inventions and building whole new industries.
Until we do this, Britain will simply continue down a road of continual decline that will continually impoverish the whole country over the next quarter of a century.
Therefore, before we squander our last remaining money on the altar of developers and landowners, let’s think a minute about investing in the long-term future for the British people.
Simply building houses wherever will not do this and government and their advisers should know better.
Dr David Hill
Chief Executive, World Innovation Foundation
Yes to supermarkets
THE debate goes on and on and I would like to give you my own view on the proposed building of two new supermarket chains on the outskirts of Holmfirth.
As far as I’m concerned the people who shop in the town at our two bread shops, one butcher’s and one grocer’s shops can continue to do so.
People should be given a choice to purchase goods/food at competitive prices and I feel, along with many others in the village, these two stores will allow us to do this.
The opening hours of the small village shops do not cater for the people who work full-time. These shops are closed when most of us are arriving home from work.
The proposed shops will create employment for the area and, hopefully, one of them will have a petrol station.
Mrs Dyson’s comments about the Midlothian site being used to build yet more houses should realise this is not the way to keep the village ‘unique’ and is not a desirable alternative for the site.
Many elderly people I know who have to trail into Huddersfield on public transport for food at prices they can afford would welcome the opening of both stores and are hopeful of a satisfactory outcome.
I have been asked to put their point across for them.
L Mallinson
Hade Edge
A brilliant concert
ON Saturday evening my husband and I attended a concert tribute to Claude-Michel Schonberg ‘Les Miserables’ presented by Oscars College Of Performance Arts from Huddersfield at St Paul’s Concert Hall.
It was a wonderful performance. Well done to all who took part and to all staff and parents you should be extremely proud of all your efforts.
The whole cast of marvellous young people and the young orchestra are extremely talented as are the pianist, musical director and artistic director. A delight and pleasure to attend. What a credit to you all. Thank you.
Jane and Alexander Woodage
Honley
Holmfirth charity shops
KIRKLEES residents may not be aware that Holmfirth now has seven wonderful charity shops.
These are Debra, Kirkwood Hospice, Forget Me Not Trust, Oxfam Books, Albert Horse Sanctuary and two Age UK shops.
We all work very hard for the charities we are involved with and have decided to work together to make shopping in Holmfirth a more pleasurable experience.
In any of the charity shops you can pick up a street map of Holmfirth town centre on which all our shops are clearly marked.
The map is also available at Tourist Information. Even though Last of the Summer Wine is no longer being filmed in Holmfirth it is still, as it always was, a beautiful place to visit with lots to do and see.
We have a wide range of small independent shops and plenty of places for eating and drinking.
Pop down the Holme Valley one day soon and you may be pleasantly surprised.
Lindsey Devons
Manager at the Debra Charity Shop in Holmfirth
Trains would be better
HAVING just read that Lockwood bar was one of the most congested junctions in Huddersfield, just think if the rail line between Huddersfield and Meltham was still open.
While the Netherton station was never too popular being too far from the village and down a fairly steep hill,ŠMeltham was pretty unique in having a station within a 100 yards or so of the village centre.
Just think how much traffic could be taken off the road if this spur line was still open.
This, I might add, would applyŠif the Holmfirth spur was still open.
Light tramlike cars would be all that was needed.ŠMany a time as I sit in the car in Morrisons car park I can stillŠvisualise the old steam train waiting on the platform.
Beeching and the government of the day have much to answer for. Nothing much changes.
Norman Mellor
Meltham
On the right path?
IN an attempt to have the footpath through the woodland behind Ganton Way and Camborne Drive in Fixby recognised as a Public Right of Way friendsofcambornewood@yahoo.co.uk are trying to locate any photographs of the walk through the woodland, showing the entrance at either end of the path or scenes showing the footpath through the wood.
We would also welcome any written information from people who have walked this path over the last 20 years.
Pat Bell
7 Camborne Drive, Fixby, Huddersfield, HD2 2NF
Give to those who gave
IT been suggested that money be given to people to stimulate the economy.
If so then let it be given to they who gave – all who served in the war, including the home front, fire, ambulance, police and women’s land army. Also all who completed their two years national service. All these gave to Britain so let Britain now give to them.
E Firth
Wilsden
