PLANS for a huge housing development on a Colne Valley hillside were thrown out.

Kirklees councillors rejected the proposals from Marden Developments for 201 homes off Manchester Road Linthwaite. They said it was vital that green space separating Linthwaite and Cowlersley should be preserved. But they backed down from a move to stop homes ever being built on the land after being told it could cost the council dearly. Permission granted in 1973 by the former Colne Valley Urban Council for another scheme of 312 houses on the same site was still valid. Revoking it could have meant Kirklees having to pay at least £850,000 in compensation.

Over in Shepley residents were concerned about plans for an intensive pig-rearing unit – and Kirklees planners agreed with them. The proposal to rear up to 500 animals at Stretchgate was rejected on grounds of noise and smells neighbours would have to suffer. Plans for a 125-ft-long shed sparked complaints and more than 90 people in nearby streets signed petitions. They were supported by Kirkburton Parish Council. The proposed “tin shed” would be unsuitable for a green belt site said councillors.

Rawthorpe High School pupils were to tackle local ‘green’ issues when they returned to the classroom after the summer holiday. The school had launched its pioneering 1991 Rawthorpe Action Project which was to combine education and industry to raise awareness of environmental problems. Senior teacher Mr George Fewster said: “The school is working alongside departments of Kirklees Council and local, national and international business to involve pupils.” Businesses involved included British Gas, McDonald’s, British Telecom, ICI, the Huddersfield Community Heritage Farm and Kirklees Environment Improvement Unit. Pupils from Longley Special School were also involved.

Kirklees Council was being encouraged to build on the success of the recent One World Festival. The two-week festival in May involved 30 separate events, including educational workshops, exhibitions, outdoor activities and concerts. More than 100 performers, including some from overseas were involved. The festival ended with a One World Fair at Huddersfield Town Hall, involving 30 exhibitors and attracting 800 visitors.

The number of Kirklees pupils staying in full time education after the age of 16 had rocketed to record levels. A new council report showed that 2,410 of the 4,866 pupils who reached the legal school-leaving age of 16 the previous year decided to continue their studies. The represented 49.5%.

A supremo was appointed to get Huddersfield’s proposed civic theatre and arts complex off the ground. Scots-born Ronald McAllister’s first job would be to raise the rest of the cash still needed for the £4.6m conversion of the former Queen Street Mission. The first show in the 450-seat main auditorium and 180 capacity basement performance area could be held by late 1994. Kirklees Council had promised to give up to £2.9m of the profits from the partnership with developers Henry Boot while £1m was in the bank from the former West Yorkshire County Council. A decision was still awaited from the Environment Department on listed building consent for the mission conversion.

The ombudsman delivered a stinging rebuke to Kirklees Council over its handling of a modern extension to a medieval building. He found the council guilty of two counts of maladministration for the way it allowed a £225,000 extension to the 13th century All Hallow’s Church at Almondbury, a top grade listed building. A protest petition signed by 1,637 people was handed to the ombudsman.

Huddersfield slumped in the league table of tooth decay ammong five-year-old because of the lack of fluoride in the water, dentists claimed. The town ranked 13th out of 178 district health authorities for its rate of decay in 1987-88, but since the removal of fluoride from tap water in October 1989 the town had fallen to 74th.

The future looked bleak for Milnsbridge library which councillors claimed could be easily served by a mobile library. Linthwaite library had already been closed.

Colne Valley MP Graham Riddick received a flood of complaints about local train services, but claimed things would improve when his Tory government introduced its ‘Citizens’ Charter’.

The Woodsome Hall teenager Nicola Buxton (pictured, inset) completed a unique golfing treble. The 18-year-old clinched the English Girls’ Championship at Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent, to add to her English women’s title and the Yorkshire crown claimed earlier that summer. Nicola beat her England international teammate Caroline Hall, of Bristol, at Sevenoaks.