Beware optimistic sums over the sale of artwork

THE cache of artworks, unseen in the basement, should not in my view be sold.

Rather they should be put on display in a custom-built facility which with patience will provide the cultural draw that Huddersfield so badly needs.

Consider how the fortunes of Bretton park have been transformed or how popular the Hepworth Gallery is proving to be.

Between those two sites and Huddersfield is what could become the Northern Art Triangle, making this part of West Yorkshire an enhanced art and leisure destination. We have the art, now we need the imagination to use it.

Or you could take the view that it should be disposed of and the money spent. But on what?

There have been various suggestions which are nice and cosy but as we’ve now slammed hard into what has become the post-truth era in politics I for one don’t want to see politician’s promises over spending these revenues on worthy projects disappear just as rapidly as those promises about NHS spending that appeared on that bus in the pre-referendum campaign.

Let us not forget the track record of Kirklees Council over the previous years.

For example, the multi-storey car park adjacent to the indoor market was falling down, beyond repair, dangerous and must be destroyed which while they were at it gave an opportunity to redevelop said market which of course was falling down, dangerous etc.

Never mind it’s unique structure or the wonderful external sculptures that adorn it. The central library building containing the town’s art gallery was of little architectural merit (someone’s opinion) and full of asbestos, needed major repairs, etc,