IMPROVEMENTS costing £220,000 could be carried out at Castle Hill.

Better parking, footpaths and visitor information are planned for the historic Almondbury landmark.

The work could be carried out this year if Kirklees Council's Cabinet gives the go-ahead on March 29.

But more ambitious schemes - including plans for visitor attractions and toilet and cafe facilities - cannot be considered until the council's legal wranglings with the Thandi Partnership have ended.

The whole debate about Castle Hill's future was sparked by the Thandi brothers, who owned the former pub on the hilltop. They broke planning rules by building an extension that was too large.

They were forced to tear it down, leaving the area as a `blank canvas'.

Members of the council's overview and scrutiny panel for regeneration heard details of the plans yesterday.

The panel approved the improvements, but members were disappointed that the legal wranglings meant bigger improvements could not be planned.

Clr Jean Calvert said: "We may be putting out the perception that something big is going to be done. But the problems are still there."

Members also asked whether enough was being done to prevent planning problems there in future.

Clr Peter McBride said: "Is there anything which shows we have learned lessons from what happened before?

"It is useless doing all this work unless we are going to protect it."

But Kirklees officials Michael Hall said the improvements would not be a waste.

He said: "Certain things cannot be decided until the situation with the pub is resolved. These proposals are things we can be getting on with. The work won't be wasted."

The improvements planned for Castle Hill are in a `conservation management plan'. This will be used to govern future decisions about the site's development.

It was produced by Kirklees Council and consultants Atkins Heritage.

The public were consulted about the plan between October last year and February 21.

More than 500 people responded, some saying they wanted a replacement for the Thandis' pub.

Others wanted no buildings to spoil the landmark's looks.

Most people agreed that action was needed over litter, lack of facilities and anti-social behaviour.

Others said parking should be restricted to the bottom of the hill, except for disabled people.

* 66 new car parking spaces to be created at the top and bottom of the hill.

* Footpaths and disabled access improved.

* Work to be done to combat erosion.

* More visitor-friendly signs to be put up.

* More historical information on show in the Victoria Tower.

* A picnic and educational area to be created.

* More litter bins.

* The site will be closed to vehicles at night and a barrier will be installed. This aims to combat vandalism and anti-social behaviour, including strangers meeting for sex in a practice known as `dogging'.

* A site manager to be appointed for the landmark. They will work with a new advisory group of representatives from English Heritage, West Yorkshire Archaeological Advisory Service.