LAST week I wrote about the confusion surrounding the pronunciation of the area at the heart of the current debate about planning in Huddersfield.
As you may know, Thornhill Estates wants to build hundreds of homes in the Grimescar Valley, while some residents wish to protect this area of green space between Birchencliffe and Birkby.
But that’s not the real controversy. No, the more important issue for me is whether the area is pronounced ‘Grimescar’ or ‘Grimscar’.
As I said last week, I’ve heard both versions over the last few weeks, with ‘grime’ having a clear lead over ‘grim’.
Last Wednesday’s epic 13-hour Kirklees Council meeting continued that trend, with nearly everyone – be they councillors, residents or developers – getting covered in grime.
The only person who went all grim on us was Clr Andrew Marchington, a Golcar lad born and bred.
So I was surprised with what reader Dave Whitworth had to tell me about this issue.
After last week’s column he emailed: “I don’t know anyone who is a local pronouncing it as ‘grim’.
“As long I can remember, whether it’s spelt Grimescar or Grimscar, it has always been pronounced ‘grime’.”
Yet, in the last month or so I have noticed two of my colleagues – both lifelong Huddersfield residents – refer to the area as ‘Grimscar’.
Dave went on to provide me with some interesting information about an area near the Examiner’s new home.
He wrote: “I recall that when the new estate off Bradley Road, below your office, was being built, the developer called the location Bradley Wood despite the fact that Bradley Wood is over half a mile away on the Brighouse side of the motorway.
“I imagine the correct name – Screamer Wood – might have deterred people from coming to view their executive houses!”
