A COUNCILLOR has objected to a proposal to put up an iron sign at one of Huddersfield’s few Tudor buildings.

Planners will decide today if Almondbury Conservative Club can erect the sign at the Grade II* listed building at Westgate in the village.

The 16th Century building, known as Wormald’s Hall, is well known for its exposed timber framing.

It is one of only six Tudor buildings in Kirklees – and the only one in commercial use.

Almondbury Lib Dem councillor Phil Scott has objected to the plan to put a sign up at the site.

He said: “Wormald’s Hall is a very special building in Almondbury with huge historic value, not only to people living in the village but to Kirklees as a whole.

“There has been a flat wooden sign on the building for the last century and I am concerned that a swinging sign would be out of keeping with the history of the building and its architecture.”

Clr Scott has asked the council’s Huddersfield Planning Sub-committee to rule on the proposal – rather than leaving it to officers.

He said: “People who I have spoken to about this – some of whom were unaware of the application and as such failed to object formally – expressed reservations so I have asked that it come to sub-committee so that an open debate about the decision can take place.

“If a change to a historic public asset is to be agreed, I think it is right that elected members take responsibility for overseeing it.”

“Personally, if a sign has to be put up, I am in favour of it being a discrete flat wooden sign in keeping with the building’s design – similar to that which was there before.”

The sub-committee will debate the issue at its monthly meeting, which starts at Huddersfield Town Hall at 1pm today.

The association’s secretary John Baldwin has written to Kirklees saying : “The new sign has been designed to be in keeping with the building.

“We intend to use materials which match the exterior of the building and to use holes already in the woodwork in order not to cause any further disturbance.

“The sign is to replace an old sign which had begun to rot and crumble.

“The committee feel that we need a sign to promote the club and to identify the building as Almondbury Conservative Club for the benefit of visitors.”

The building was constructed in the mid-1500s. Owner Isaac Wormald had the ground floor covered in stone in 1631 to fit in with the style of the time.