Founders’ Building must never be demolished
I AM writing to express in the strongest terms my dismay at the prospective demolition of The Founders’ Building at Whitcliffe Mount School in Cleckheaton.
I was educated there from 1978-1983 and went on from Whitcliffe Mount to Cambridge University and thence to a successful career as an author.
I retain the fondest and most grateful of memories of the school and, in particular, the Founders’ Building whose polished wooden floors, high, elegant windows and air of serious academic purpose provided an imposing and inspiring background to my scholastic efforts and those of my peers.
The Founders’ Building has a wider historic significance, however. Whitcliffe Mount is unique in being the only State school which came into being through the will of the people rather than government policy.
It was funded and built by a breakaway group of Cleckheaton philanthropists who felt strongly that young people in the town deserved their own educational establishment rather than being sent to the nearest one at Heckmondwike (now Heckmondwike Grammar).
This fascinating historic fact, as well as the generosity and faith in our town displayed by these generous locals, should be honoured by keeping the Founders’ Building standing, especially as there is plenty of interest from developers in converting the lovely Edwardian York stone structure into apartments.
It does not need to be demolished and it should not be. Cleckheaton, like every town everywhere, should cherish the beautiful buildings of the past, especially if, like this one, they represent an important part of its history and have a purpose in the future. since it is clear both he and President Trump are climate change deniers.
If they are right in thinking manmade climate change is some kind of scare it doesn’t really matter, although measures to combat climate change might as well go ahead because they mostly bring improvements to the environment and human beings in any case.
But what if Messrs Trump and Rothwell are wrong? The consequences of doing nothing would be disastrous. Because of that it seems wise to apply a precautionary principle and act as if manmade climate change is a reality.
It would be wrong to attach too much significance to one climatic event but if Hurricane Irma has been fed by manmade global warming, the consequences of doing nothing are clear.
If nothing is done, all the evidence suggests worse is to come. Mr Rothwell might regard that as scaremongering but it is better to be safe than sorry.