So many factors have resulted in town demise

John Williams, film score composer Nick Nolte, actor Mary Steenburgen, actress, John Grisham, author, Seth Green, actor, Abi Titmuss, model/TV personality Dani Harmer, actress, JUST read Arthur Quarmby’s letter where he tries to blame Kirklees for anything and everything that he thinks is wrong with our town.

I have no particular affection for Kirklees Council (KC) but to implicate them in the demolition of the old market hall and the general modernisation of the town is unfair and inaccurate.

The vast majority of the work on reshaping our town was done and dusted by 1974, the start of KC.

Arthur also hints that KC had something to do with the demise of our textile, engineering and chemical industries yet fails to mention the emergence of the Far East and Asian economies that started to flood the markets with cheap products.

It is well known also that many of our older companies were very reluctant to invest in the latest technologies and when they eventually did the ‘die was cast.’

Arthur also paints a very pleasant picture of our town back in the day before KC but again fails to mention that the town centre was under a permanent cloud of soot and smoke which coated black our buildings and gave many citizens respiratory disorders.

There is no mention of the eternal traffic jam which was our main street and the toxic fumes from the vehicles which mixed nicely with the soot and the smoke from the countless chimneys.

Many of us in those days lived in the town centre in properties that were substandard and not fit for modern living, yet Arthur chooses not to mention these slums which were thankfully cleared in the late 60s.

No, our town is not perfect, but in common with many it has been hit by online shopping, the big six supermarkets and on the edge of town retail parks.

I too have fond memories of our fantastic town but let’s not trick the younger generations into believing our town was some sort of Shangri-La. I WAS saddened to learn of the recent cases of students from Honley High School in Huddersfield who have been diagnosed with meningitis.

On behalf of Meningitis Now, which represents thousands of families affected by the devastation caused by meningitis and associated diseases, I extend our thoughts and best wishes to the individuals concerned and their families and friends at this difficult time.

We are here to help anyone who has been affected by this recent case or would like to know more about this devastating disease.

As a charity, we are fighting back against all forms of meningitis-related disease.

Because it can strike quickly and be difficult to detect, we fund pioneering preventative research to wipe out meningitis, as well as provide support and care to those affected.

For a free symptoms information pack or further information, please call our Freephone helpline on 0808 80 10 388 (9.00am-5.00pm Monday to Friday), or visit www.MeningitisNow.org. SO, the May government has caved in to its extremist wing and is now committed to staying outside the EU customs union.

The damage to British industry and therefore employment could be immense.

The effect on Northern Ireland, on the other hand, may be catastrophic, with a return to a closed border, with customs checks frustrating meaningful commerce and the Good Friday Agreement being shaken.

Brexiteers talked about ‘taking back control.’

Tory governments since 2010 have surrendered democratic control over the NHS to independent Hospital Trusts while struggling with huge debts, schools have been given away to Academy Trusts and Carillion and Capita, amongst others, have been given control over much that was formerly delivered by the state.

Local services across the country have been cut drastically and often removed from local democratic control by various forms of ‘outsourcing.’

The government has proved more than willing to intimidate people on disability benefits while unable to tackle international tax havens where the rich can park their fortunes. Sterling remains at the mercy of the money markets.

What price any real control?