A FORMER council leader who won back a council seat says Elland needs to fight for its future.
Clr John Ford won a seat on Calderdale Council last week after a four-year break away from local politics.
And he vowed to live up to his campaign motto – and be a strong voice for Elland.
Clr Ford said: “The main issue for Elland is simple – we need to sort out the town centre.
“We need the council’s investment, thecapital investment and to get the town to how it should be after 30 years of total neglect.
“It was something that came up time and time again as I was campaigning and it’s something we need to sort out.”
And he’s waded into the battle of the supermarkets too. Plans are afoot in Elland for two supermarket giants to open a store in the town.
ASDA and Morrisons are both keen to build in Elland – ASDA off the bottom of Dewsbury Road and Huddersfield Road and Morrisons on the site of long-standing local business Nu-Swift.
Clr Ford has come out on the side of Morrisons.
Their plans so far include under-store parking at ground level, a petrol station and a new access road from the Elland-Riorges link.
Plus they’ve vowed that the 70 staff employed at Nu-Swift would not lose their jobs, with a new base built for them.
Clr Ford added: “I’m a strong supporter of the Morrisons development. I think it offers the best future for the town of the two.
“People say it will kill the town centre, but if we get it right it won’t – you only have to look at Brighouse which has two supermarkets, but that’s brought people into the town.
“In Elland people have to leave to do their shopping. They go into Brighouse or Huddersfield or Halifax, there’s nothing to keep them here.”
Clr Ford added: “I campaigned on a strong voice for Elland and that’s what I’ll be.”
